The creative economy

The Cultural Economy Initiative

Berlin is widely recognized as an important hub within the cultural and creative economy. Urban centres around the globe are seeking to reinvent themselves as “Creative Cities”. This trend is driven by structural changes in the economy, the growth of cultural tourism and, in some cases, the need to re-brand cities blighted by stagnation. A city of creative professionals, artists and talents, Berlin stands for an integrated approach to the cultural and creative economy. Launched in 2004, Berlin’s Cultural Economy Initiative (Kulturwirtschaftsinitiative) has evolved into a state-wide, inter-agency and cross-ministerial initiative that enjoys the support of businesses, networks, institutions and political parties.