PROPOSALS FOR POLITICAL PARTIES’ ELECTION PROGRAMMES
In recent years, the cultural and creative industries (CCI) sector in Lithuania has been one of the largest employers and one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy, generating significant value for the Lithuanian society, contributing to the creation of the social economy, and shaping the country’s identity and image.
According to the State Data Agency, in 2021, the CCI sector will account for 4.8% of the total number of economic entities operating in Lithuania. In total, 50.2 thousand employees or 3.7% of the total number of employed persons in Lithuania will work in enterprises in the CCI sector in 2021. In 2021, the CCI sector’s output was worth EUR 1.94 billion and the total value added was EUR 1 billion. Compared to the country as a whole, in 2021, the value added by all economic activities in Lithuania was €50.196 billion at current prices, so the CCI sector accounted for almost 2% of the country’s total value added. In 2022, CCI value added accounted for 3.28% of the total gross value added and represented a significant share of the economy compared to other sectors (e.g. in 2020, Food, Beverages and Tobacco Manufacturing accounted for 3.19%, Accommodation and Food Service Activities 1.2%, Telecommunications 0.9%).
The number of employees in the CCI sector has been growing steadily over the last few years, with 48.75 thousand (2019), 49.12 thousand (2020), 50.2 thousand (2021) and 55.85 thousand (2022) employees respectively. Comparing the employment structure of young people (15-29) within the CCI sector and with the Lithuanian average confirms the European Commission’s conclusions that CCIs are one of Europe’s most dynamic sectors, showing above-average growth and creating a favourable environment for work and other attractive forms of employment, especially for young people, while also strengthening social cohesion.
Lithuanian talents are raising the country’s profile, winning top international awards and recognition: the opera Sun and & Sea was awarded the prestigious Golden Lion of the Venice Art Biennale in 2019, Asmik Grigorian was named Best Soloist in the World at the International Opera Awards in 2019, Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla won the Best Recording of the Year Award at the Gramophone Classical Music Awards in 2020, and the audio producers Aleksandra Kerienė and Vilius Keras were nominated for Grammy Awards four times. The main award of the Venice International Film Festival, Venice Horizons went to “Pilgrims” by Laurynas Bareiša in 2021, and the European Film Award for the best documentary in 2022 went to “Mariupol 2” by Mantas Kvedaravičius. Sundance Film Festival (USA) awarded Marija Kavtaradzė Best Director for “Slow” 2023. Human Fall Flat is among the top 20 best-selling video games of all time with more than 50 million copies sold and hundreds of millions of views on YouTube. Lithuania’s first unicorn in service and product design Vinted; Lithuanian breakdancing talent Dominyka Banevič won silver at the 2024 Olympics, etc.
Investments in improving the competitiveness of the CCI sector, improving infrastructure and other CCI operating conditions are necessary to promote and properly exploit the potential of CCIs, to increase employment, and to create a high value-added, flexible and sustainable operating environment. It is essential to strengthen the CCI ecosystem as a whole in a balanced way, to reduce fragmentation, to strengthen cooperation between government sectors, developers and society, to create fiscal incentives, to develop a systematic approach to the CCI ecosystem, to foster synergies between CCI areas, to develop a transparent, coherent CCI policy and the means to implement it, and to foster the growth and development of CCIs at the national, regional and international levels.
The National Association of Creative and Cultural Industries makes the following proposals:
1. We propose that the Lithuanian Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) sector be recognised as a priority and strategically important sector for the national economy, given its significance for the country’s socio-economic development and its contribution to the creation of national identity, cultural and economic value. Include the CCI sector in the State’s strategic documents, the Government Programme, the National Progress Plan, sectoral development programmes and the priorities of the new European Union investment programming period (2028-2034).
2. Develop a progressive creative and cultural industries ecosystem to mobilise and strengthen the sector’s potential. Pay particular attention to fostering interdisciplinarity and the development of creative fusion hubs that meet the highest technical standards and the requirements of the European Union’s Green Deal. This infrastructure should become a key factor in helping Lithuania to retain and attract talent, and to develop high value-added CCI products and services capable of competing in global markets.
3. Develop and implement comprehensive measures to attract and retain talent in the Lithuanian CCI sector. A coherent talent development system is needed, covering the whole development chain from school, vocational training and higher education to lifelong learning. Particular attention is proposed to be paid to the development of cross-sectorality in the sector, as well as to the retraining of talent to adapt to the ever-changing market needs and challenges.
4. Evaluate and adapt corporate tax incentives in the creative industries sector. Create a favourable tax environment that encourages the growth of creative industries businesses and talent attraction, while contributing to increasing the sector’s competitiveness in international markets.
5. Establish a Creative Industries Centre at the national level to take care of the growth and development of the CCI sector at national, regional and international level, to contribute to the formulation of CCI policy, implementation of measures, to promote synergies in the sector, to reduce fragmentation, to strengthen cooperation between government sectors, CCI organisations, developers and the general public, and to carry out CCI national statistics and research requests, with the aim of evidence-based CCI policy formulation and implementation.
6. Embed sustainability principles in the cultural funding model, to be resilient to political change, with a particular focus on the NPO sector. Develop funding mechanisms that are in line with the ‘arm’s length’ principles, ensuring the independent development of cultural and creative activities (e.g. annual indexation of programme funds, establishment of investment funds, etc.).
The National Creative and Cultural Industries Association (NKIKIA) has represented the CCI sector for more than 15 years. We are a trusted social partner, participating in various advisory formats and expert working groups. We are ready to work together for the competitiveness and sustainable growth of the Lithuanian CCI sector and to work together for the benefit of the Lithuanian people.