PRESS RELEASE
Creative industries: the unexploited economic potential of
European cities
The partner cities in the Creative Cities project opened Cluster Contact Points
to promote the development of cities and regions
Ljubljana, March 30, 2012 – At Ljubljana City Hall, the partners in the European project
Creative Cities gave a public presentation of activities intended to promote the
economic role of creative industries and the development of creative industries in
the cities of Ljubljana, Leipzig (Germany), Gdansk (Poland), Genoa (Italy) and Pécs
(Hungary). The Regional Development Agency of the Ljubljana Urban Region opened
a Regional Creative Economy Centre at the Technology Park in Ljubljana in order to
accelerate the economic development of creative industries in the region. The
Centre already implements training for creative individuals from creative industries,
as well as a pilot project to connect designers and the furniture industry. Such
centres, adapted to local economic and cultural requirements, have also been
opened by the other partner cities.
While most of the partner cities decided to establish their centres in the form of
offices or info points, the partner from Genoa opened a virtual centre for creative
industries. Virtual activities were also more highlighted in the Hungarian city of Pécs
which supports the centre's activity through a web site and a Facebook profile. The
representatives of the centre in Pécs especially highlighted the operation of the
space intended for 'co-working' which enables creative individuals from creative
industries a modern method of working. In the Polish city of Gdansk, the centre also
acts as a business incubator, and in Leipzig, they primarily strive to include people in
creative industries in the local economy.
The Creative Cities project started in 2010 and will conclude at the end of this year.
Eleven partners from five central European cities are taking part. Through various
activities, the partners strive to promote the greater involvement of creative
industries in business. In order to achieve this objective, it is first necessary to provide
for business training for creative individuals, promote the applicability of their skills
and potential in the business sphere, and encourage new ways of cooperation in
the creation of new, high value-added products and services. As Susanne
Kucharski-Huniat, Head of the Creative Cities project, explained in her opening
speech, the current activities of the partners are directed towards implementing
activities within the local environments. In future, efforts will be made to establish
international connections for the centres and to create the conditions for long-term
operations and the development of new activities. The activities of the Creative
Cities project are designed in such a way as to ensure their long-term impact and
Projekt poteka v okviru programa
Srednja Evropa, katerega delno financira
Evropski sklad za regionalni razvoj.
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the possibility of applying their good practices to other cities and regions of
European Union countries.
For additional information about the project:
Nataša Mršol, Creative Cities project leader at RDA LUR
natasa.mrsol@ljubljana.si, 051/696-205
For additional information about the Creative Cities project on the Web:
 Creative Cities project; www.creativecitiesproject.eu
 RDA LUR web site; http://www.rralur.si/projekti/kreativna-mesta
Partners in the project:
LP - City of Leipzig, Germany (coordinator)
PP2 – Aufbauwerk Region Leipzig, Germany
PP3 – Gdansk Entrepreneurship Foundation, Poland
PP4 – IER, Slovenia
PP5 – Municipality of Genoa – Culture Department, Italy
PP6 – RDA LUR, Slovenia
PP7 – City Hall of Gdansk, Poland
PP8 – Job Centre, Italy
PP9 – City of Pecs, Hungary
PP10–Cultural Innovation Competency Centre Association, Hungary
PP11- German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development
Projekt poteka v okviru programa
Srednja Evropa, katerega delno financira
Evropski sklad za regionalni razvoj.
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