Belgium/ 4.2 Specific policy issues and recent debates  

4.2.3 Cultural/creative industries: policies and programmes

Flemish Community

Culture industries are defined as producers or distributors of cultural products or services, the cultural content being of utmost importance for the economic value of the products and / or services; where the actors intend to market the output and to realise a return.

Cultural industry organisations are seen as a major partner in the realisation of certain objectives of Flemish cultural policy. In certain sectors they are responsible for, as an example, the distribution or production of cultural products. Various initiatives have been taken to support these actors within the cultural domain.

The Arts Decree and the Cultural Heritage Decree (see chapter 5.2) both offer legal bodies with a commercial character the possibility of requesting project support or support for publications. Specifically with regard to the audiovisual arts, production investors can lay claim to a tax shelter and the Flemish Audiovisual Fund (VAF) offers production support for audiovisual creations. The management agreement between the government and the public broadcaster (VRT) states that the VRT must also participate in independent Flemish audio-visual productions, e.g., feature films, TV drama and documentaries.

On 31 March 2006, the Flemish government approved a new policy toolbox for companies in the culture industries sector: CultuurInvest. The sectors covered include: new media and computer games, the audiovisual sector and digital design, the music industry and concert scene, design and fashion design, printed media and graphic design, publishing and the book trade, music and performing arts, and distribution companies within the visual arts sector.

CultuurInvest has three methods of support:

• project financing: short term and bridge financing for specific projects;
• growth capital: capital participation in more mature growth companies; and
• subordinated loans: quasi-capital as long-term investment in the companies belonging to the target sector.

CultuurInvest also intends to provide management support and coaching to cultural entrepreneurs. CultuurInvest was subsumed under the Participatie Maatschappij Vlaanderen (PMV, Flanders Participation Company) from its initiation, in early 2006. After a start-up period, the first projects were presented in mid-2007. In 2011, the effectiveness of the instrument was evaluated.

Also in other policy domains, initiatives have been taken by different bodies to stimulate innovation and creativity in Flanders.

• IWT is the government agency for Innovation in Science and Technology. It helps Flemish companies and research centres to realise their research and development projects by providing funding, advice and a network of potential partners in Flanders and abroad. It also supports the Flemish Government in its innovation policy.
• IBBT (Interdisciplinary Institute for Broadband Technology) is an independent research institute founded by the Flemish government to stimulate ICT innovation. The IBBT team offers companies and organisations active support in research and development. It brings together companies, authorities, and non-profit organisations to join forces on research projects. Both technical and non-technical issues are addressed within each of these projects. In the "Archipel" project, researchers work in close collaboration with the arts field to develop a sustainable digital archive infrastructure for cultural content in Flanders.
• Flanders DC, short for Flanders District of Creativity, is a Flemish governmental organisation that promotes entrepreneurial creativity throughout the region through network development, research and events. In 2011, Flanders DC coordinated the Overleg Creatieve Industrie (Creative Industries Consultation), consisting of representatives of 12 sectors, drafting a vision statement with recommendations to achieve an optimal development of the creative industries in Flanders. Also in 2011, Flanders DC's knowledge centre – together with Antwerp Management School –  conducted a study on the economic impact of the creative industries in Flanders.

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