To accompany this report, the OECD has conducted four in-depth regional case studies in Emilia-Romagna, Italy; Flanders, Belgium; Glasgow, United Kingdom (UK) and Klaipėda, Lithuania. These case studies, undertaken in collaboration with local partners, examine trends and issues in the local context and assess current policy provisions. Comparing evidence from each of these case studies reiterates the different challenges faced by policy makers at the regional level and how diverse contexts require tailored solutions.
Each region has unique characteristics in regards to both institutional arrangements for cultural and creative sectors (CCS) policy making, sub-sectoral strengths and financial ecosystems. Each region has implemented a number of effective and innovative CCS policy initiatives around cultural participation, cultural and creative skills, business support, and access to finance. For example, in Emilia-Romagna, the Laboratori Aperti projects provide physical spaces, workshops and training to support cultural entrepreneurs to test pilot projects that could be eventually scaled up to economically viable ventures. In Flanders, the Cultuurkrediet initiative supports CCS businesses in accessing credit through the partner bank Hefboom. In Glasgow, policy makers are promoting fair work principles, to encourage better pay and working conditions for artists and CCS professionals. And in Klaipėda, a disused tobacco factory was repurposed in 2014 to form Cultural Factory, a municipal institution that operates as a cultural and creative sector incubator, quickly becoming the centre for contemporary cultural action and an essential platform for local creative businesses.