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How culture can boost regional development: Commission releases new handbook

6 June 2012

Some tips for a more strategic use of the EU Structural Funds to foster the potential of culture in your region or in your city: A Group of experts from EU Member States set up as part of the European Agenda for Culture and the Council Work Plan 2011-2014 has just finalised a Policy Handbook on "How to strategically use the EU support programmes, including structural funds, to foster the potential of culture for local, regional and national development and the spill-over effects on the wider economy?". The objective of this Handbook is to better sensitise local, regional and national authorities as well as the cultural community of the potential of cultural and creative industries – which include among others the music industry, publishing, the audio-visual industry, performing arts, cultural heritage or design – in boosting regional and local development. The Handbook intends to help them in formulating local, regional and national strategies for CCIs. It comes at a crucial moment. Indeed, there are still funds available from the Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 programming period. Moreover, the negotiations for the next programming period 2014-2020 have already started. The results presented in the Handbook can be effectively used in directing funds from current period and planning the funds for the next period to foster the full potential of CCIs in local and regional development policies. The Handbook presents a rationale for developing CCIs, gives an overview of the different EU Structural Funds and their relevance for cultural projects, and includes examples from various Member States, which can be used as an inspiration by national, regional and public authorities. (Source: DG EAC website)