Title: OECD conference on culture and local development – unleashing the transformative power of culture and creativity for local development

Date: 6-7 December 2018

Venue: Scuola San Giovanni Evangelista, Venice, Italy

Organiser: OECD (in co-operation with the European Commission and UNESCO)

Summary (from the website):

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The conference will develop recommendations for economic and social policies that leverage culture and cultural heritage to enhance economic growth, job creation and social inclusion. It will highlight “what works” in policy governance arrangements and funding models.

The conference is organised by the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities and its Programme on Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) whose mission is to contribute to building more and better jobs. Since 1982 the LEED Programme has advised OECD governments and communities and contributed to the G20, APEC and ASEAN on how to make the implementation of national policies more effective at the local level, while stimulating innovative practices on the ground.

What’s the issue? The past decades have seen the rapid emergence of a dynamic cultural and creative economy. Culture and creative sectors use and nurture talent for the development of high added value, they spur innovation and transform local economies in various ways:

· Generating economic growth, productivity, exports and employment;

· Diversifying the economy and contributing to urban regeneration;

· Promoting cities and rural regions as destinations to visit, live, work and invest in;

· Strengthening local cultural identity and diversity;

· Supporting social cohesion and integration of marginalised groups;

· Contributing to well-being. To reap these benefits, national and local governments have been putting in place policy initiatives to support these sectors as drivers of sustainable economic growth and employment. However, in spite of this growing attention, there is still limited evidence and understanding of how culture and creativity can transform an