The cultural and creative industries
Strong on potential. Strong in innovation.
As well as being an engine for innovation, the creative industries are playing a major role in the transformation, modernisation and growth of the economy. Bremen has recognised the potential of the creative economy and is driving it forward with targeted policies, strategies and activities.
The creative economy is becoming ever more important for the image of a modern city and is increasingly being recognised as a sector in its own right. It is helping to identify particular needs and trends and is addressing some of the challenges of the future. The creative industries have a big part to play in the innovation process. Around 1,800 Bremen companies are involved in the arts and the creative sector. They employ more than 10,000 people and every year generate around €760 million in revenue.
According to the conference of Germany's economic ministries, the creative economy encompasses the following:
- Publishing
- Film
- Radio
- Music and the visual and performing arts
- Journalism/news agencies
- Museum shops, art exhibitions
- Retail sales of cultural goods
- Architectural offices
- Design
- AdvertisingSoftware / games
Some 10,000 people in Bremen, around 3.3 per cent of the total workforce, are employed in the creative economy. Key locations are Überseestadt (New Harbour District) and the St Stephen's and Ostertor quarters. Überseestadt has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years. It is an ideal place for start-ups and freelancers in particular to find office space and make contacts. The University of the Arts in Speicher XI, a former warehouse, is a nucleus of the creative economy and provides a steady stream of new recruits.
Collaborations and events where people can network and obtain information are just some of the ways in which the creative industries benefit from our system of cluster management. Micro-loans can provide short-term financing, while the BAB development bank offers various options for larger projects. Loans for research and development projects are also available.
Bremeninvest also puts creatives in touch with the wider business community and promotes dialogue within the arts and cultural industries and in clusters. The idea is to get people talking so that they can come up with creative solutions and innovative methods for tackling the problems that they face. Support can be provided by numerous organisations that promote and develop the creative industries and strengthen their ties with other sectors of the economy One of them is the Mittelstand 4.0 Kompetenzzentrum Bremen.
