Creative Industries as Part of a Sustainable Urban Development Strategy: Vilnius City Case

Abstract

The concept of a creative city is a post-industrial development strategy focused on urban economies. Based on this concept, many cities declared the importance of CI development as a sustainable urban development strategy. The long-term impact of CI development on the urban economy was not extensively studied. This study aims to explore the following research question: What are the critical factors that stimulate sustainable urban development through the development of creative industries (CI)? To answer this question, the case of the city of Vilnius was analyzed. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were used. For the quantitative analysis data, statistical data for the period 2009–2019 were analyzed. To gain a deeper understanding of the development factors of Vilnius’s CI, document analysis and interviews with Vilnius’s CI experts were conducted. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (FsQCA) was used to analyze the impact of factors on Vilnius’ CI growth.

Contribution of the Cultural and Creative Industries to Regional Development and Revitalization: A European Perspective

“…This could be attributed to various factors, including concerns about the commercialization of culture or the potential homogenization of regional identities. These concerns underscore the importance of striking a balance between leveraging the CCIs for economic and cultural growth while safeguarding the authenticity and diversity of cultural expressions [11,58,68]. This study's findings strongly indicate that the CCIs have been a driving force in the urban regeneration of deteriorated or neglected areas in European regions.…”

“…The work of J ūrat ė Černeviči ūt ė & Strazdas (2023) [58] on urban cultural policies points out how the cultivation of local culture through CCIs contributes to the revitalization of neighborhoods and reinforces local identities. Moreover, Montalto (2020) [18] has documented the positive impact of flagship cultural events and institutions in enhancing the international visibility of cities and the pride of local citizens.…”

“…The emphasis has shifted over time, from traditional infrastructure projects in the 1980s and 1990s to a stronger focus on knowledge-based development and innovation in the 21st century, encapsulated in the Lisbon and Europe 2020 strategies [83]. One of the critical areas of focus in regional development has been the recognition of the potential of the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) as drivers of economic growth and social cohesion [58,84].…”

The Exploration of Skill Gaps and Ecosystem Potential among Estonian Creatives

“…We can state that the skills of the creative economy professionals were multiform in their area of expertise-the "artistic stuff" (WS1(1)). The most mentioned tools and skills have been listed in Appendix A, Tables A1 and A2, and include the following: art/craft tools and techniques (15 comments), digital art tools (Adobe Suite, Procreate, and other Adobe tools) (11), marketing and self-promotion (8), computer skills (8), 3D software and printing (5), craft skills (9), music and singing skills (6), photography/video editing and production (9), communication and people management (8), drawing and painting (7), creativity/creative thinking (6), painting (6), digital art tools, Adobe suite and Procreate (6), fashion and sewing (5), time management and effectiveness (5). In total, the participants listed 165 comments.…”

“…The study focuses on the Estonian creative economy, characterised by the country's small size but even more its scarce population (Estonia's position geographically in Europe is presented in Appendix B, Figure A1). Estonia being the case is interesting because it provides a different perspective compared to other case studies from Lithuania [9], Iran [8], Taiwan [11], Korea, and old European countries such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands [5,10], both of which are success stories. Especially Korea, the UK, and the Netherlands are often referred to, as these have provided the scales from bottom-up to topdown, as well as mixed approaches, to solve the issues of creative industries, for instance, by using various models of ecosystems.…”