Mediterranean Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship Development

The Creative Industry is considered to be one of the pillars of the Knowledge-based economy. Being aware of it, MED-KED partners have started to establish links with other projects in this field. During the study visit held in Barcelona on mid June 2011, MED-KED partners shared activities and exchanged experiences with the Creative Metropoles project (Interrreg IVC), in which Barcelona Activa is partner.

http://www.med-ked.eu/newsletter/002.htm

Between old and new: temporary uses and spaces in Helsinki

City of Helsinki commissioned a report on the potential of temporary use of spaces as a booster for creative economy of the region. The report named “Between old and new: temporary uses and spaces” was written by DoTank – a collective of researchers, city district developers and designers. Besides providing a general view to the topic, the report took a closer look at the Hernesaari area, a peninsula recently vacated by a cargo port and to be developed as a residential area and an interesting port for cruise ships sailing to Helsinki.

European Film Forum "Scanorama"

November, 10-27

Seems that the capital of Lithuania is going to surpise us with the great bunch of creative events this Autumn.

European Film Forum "Scanorama" (http://www.scanorama.lt/-japan-baltic-sea-region-coproduction-forum_1.html) is the festival of discoveries. Not only popular and famous films but also new names, new creations, new ideas, new stylistics, the opportunity to discover something that will never be shown elsewhere.

Japan – Baltic Sea Region Coproduction Forum

November, 11-13

Are you passionate about cinema?

Twenty promising filmmakers from Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Japan, and a number of experts in the film industry will participate in a 3-day Japan – Baltic Sea Region Coproduction Forum, organized in cooperation with European Film Forum Scanorama in Vilnius: http://www.scanorama.lt/-japan-baltic-sea-region-coproduction-forum_1.html

The Sounds of Autumn - Contemporary Music Festival "Gaida"

October, 21-29

"Gaida"-  the biggest and most renowned festival of contemporary music in Lithuania is held in Vilnius every year since 1991. It is also one of the most important forums of new music in Central and Eastern Europe.

SECOND CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN CREATIVE BUSINESS NETWORK

Key companies from across Europe are gathering together in Amsterdam for the second Creative Trade Mission of the European Creative Business Network (ECB Network), hosted by the cities of Rotterdam, Eindhoven and Amsterdam.

From 14-16 September the mission will see more than 70 European creative businesses and support organisations gather together to do business, exchange knowledge and explore the latest developments. Theme is Urban Futures and the ultimate goal is to develop new creative products and services. Two investors will invest at least € 5.000,- in the best new product presented.

Online platform for entrepneurs will be launched in Warsaw!

The City of Warsaw is launching in September an online platform for local creative entrepreneurs – www.creatives.waw.pl. The website will be both a knowledge base and networking place for creative entrepreneurs – it is where they will find information about support programs, events and innitiatives, they will be able to socialize with other entrepreneurs from the sector, advertize themselves and make business connections.

The idea for the platform in its present form appeared in spring 2010, when Warsaw started developing the creative district action plan. Later, the need for such a tool appeared also as one of the recommendations in the creative district action plan.

The first Estonian international conference on service design - „Services of Tomorrow: What’s next?“

The first Estonian conference on service design on September 23, 2011, which will take place at the Estonian State Puppet & Youth Theatre. Comference aims to look to the future of services by asking how to develop services in new ways. What could be done to make the customer feel happy instead of being taken advantage of?

How can creative industries contribute to a region’s development – experience of Tallinn City

By Jaanus Vahesalu, Manager of international projects, Tallinn City Enterprise Board

Cultural industries, creative industries, creative economy – these are all keywords that have become the focus of attention during the last few years. This is largely based on the changes that have taken place in economies and political programmes at the national and municipal level throughout the world. Of course, any discussion of developing a city or area into a creative region cannot be limited only by topics related to creative industries or the entrepreneurial sector, without taking into account the significant creativity-related aspects of the city’s spatial, economic, cultural and social phenomena. Rather, we must speak about creative economies as environments that are birthplaces for new models and changes, which focus on creating new connections and activities in the given local spaces, which are related to the economy, society and living space. 

Comparing to years ago, when we walk around Tallinn today, we notice creative economy elements almost everywhere – in the form of modern urban space, design stores or surprising video installations. In addition to the activities in Tallinn related to its role as the European Capital of Culture 2011 and the start-up of the Creative Incubator, which has functioned successfully almost two years, the city has also fostered many other initiatives to promote its development as a creative city. At the initiative of the Tallinn City Enterprise Board and support of the international Interreg IVC project titled “Creative Metropoles”, in August 2010, it was decided to start cooperation between the Telliskivi Creative Campus and the Culture Cauldron – the two largest creative economy units in Northern Tallinn – in order to initiate significant projects for the development of creative industries in the area. Together it was decided to start with a study, which would ascertain the current level of creative economic activity in Northern Tallinn, on the one hand, and would also aim to analyse the creative economy while also considering the urban space, local residents, and district image of Northern Tallinn, as well as the cooperation already underway.

Design Night in Tallinn, September 16-25

On September 16-25, Tallinn is overtaken by the innovative design fans who are taking part of the European Innovation Festival IF... and Design Night both of which belong to the official programme of the European Capital of Culture Tallinn 2011. Within the span of 2 years, 6 cities organize the Innovation Festival – Barcelona, Milan, Kortrijk, Lisbon, Vilnius and Tallinn. These festivals emphasize innovation and user-friendly design, social inclusion, mobility, environmental awareness and the influence of technology on everyday life. People and their needs are in the centre of attention.