International Business and Global Values: Risks and Opportunities for Creative Industries in the Next Stage of Development
The creative industries are already worth more than USD 2 trillion, and the sector is continuing to expand rapidly. As well as encompassing traditional industries (art, design, advertising, music, show business, media, online entertainment, filmmaking, architecture), the sector is beginning to see innovative technologies play an increasingly important role. And as the creative industries exhibit growth across the board, they are beginning to increasingly impact culture. Today, they are exerting a growing influence on how people think and feel, and indeed, on the value system held by global audiences, even though those working in the creative industries are driven by rational calculations and a desire to maximize profits. Does this trend indicate that value systems, both today and in the future, will ultimately play second fiddle to the push for ever-increasing ratings, clicks and likes? Will deep-seated, natural, and eternal values that nature and centuries of history instil in each of us no longer remain the primary consideration, or will the opposite turn out to be the case, with art’s emotional connection with deep-seated human values proving more competitive? In this environment, what is likely to be the future of cultural institutions, which have traditionally relied on state subsidies rather than becoming financially self-sufficient? Is a dialogue on values possible when it comes to new creative industries, including those which operate online? What needs to be done to establish a constructive relationship between government bodies, businesses, and creatives, without descending into counter-productive political discussions or anything that could be construed on social media as a “holy war”? What coordination efforts are needed with regards investors and sponsors of creative industries? And what should be the role of major companies and state corporations?
