Data about cultural and creative industries (CCI) are based on the annual empirical survey on the mapping of CCI conducted by the Observatory of Cultural Economics – Sofia. The survey covers the period 2008-2015, which allows the emergence of major trends in the development of the CCI in Bulgaria. The aim is not only to assess the economic contribution, but also the characteristics of CCI in Bulgaria as market sectors by analysing economic growth, employment and investment. In this respect, the research also addresses the different stages of creating the value of the product from idea to consuming, the analysis reflecting the management of the process and the role of the state.
The set of data is based on: Data on the projects – Analysis and methodological framework of the cultural and creative industries in Sofia, 2010-2011. Research project in partnership between the Observatory on Culture Economics, Sofia Municipality and the National Statistical Institute, and the project Sofia City of Creative Economy, 2016-2017-2018 (again in partnership). The aim is to prove and access economic contribution of the arts, cultural, creative industries and cultural tourism in Sofia and Bulgaria.
The methodology in practice in Bulgaria is based on the mapping study of the arts, cultural, creative industries and cultural tourism that reflect the established European practices of the national specificity of the cultural sector.
| ARTS AND HERITAGE |
| Visual arts |
| Stage arts |
| Cultural Heritage |
| Artistic Crafts |
| CULTURAL INDUSTRIES |
| Music industry |
| Book publishing |
| Print media |
| Film industry |
| Radio, television and new media |
| Software and video games |
| CREATIVE INDUSTRIES |
| Design |
| Architecture |
| Ad Market |
| RELATED ACTIVITIES |
| Cultural tourism |
The methodology is based on the EUROSTAT approach, i.e. the data are comparable. The approach to shaping the scope of the arts, the cultural and creative industries, follows the recommendations of the Leadership Group on Cultural Statistics reflected in the European Statistical System Network on Culture.
For almost a decade, the Observatory of Cultural Economics, supported by the Sofia Municipality, carries out an annual mapping of the arts, cultural and creative industries in Sofia. The results are extremely indicative – economic growth in the sector of 4.5%, employment – 4.1%, and every tenth enterprise in the city is part of the creative economy. We can summarize that the cultural and creative industries are an indisputable motor for the development of the city. Nowadays, this research is conducted annually and has created a database of research data and analyses with a time span from 2008 to 2015.
The data outlines Sofia as a national centre of cultural and creative industries (CCI). The main indicators of the economic importance of CCIs – value added, the employed, turnover, the number of enterprises, and direct foreign investment, show a concentration of between 49% and 92% in the city. Every tenth enterprise in the capital is a creative economy enterprise, whereby the period under observation showed an increase in employment in the sphere and dynamics exceeding the average growth of the employed in the capital.
These annual surveys have enabled management decisions made on the basis of real information on available resources and constraints, i.e. to develop “informed policies”, not only in the field of culture, but because of the mixed nature of CCIs, we are already talking about common policies between the cultural sector, education, and industry, for example:
The beginning of a more effective cultural management was established. The results of the first stage of the project became an essential part of Sofia’s Cultural Strategy (Sofia-Creative Capital) Provided an institutional opportunity to develop business models based on a partnership between economy and culture. The adopted methodological scope of the CCI was also adopted by the Ministry of Economy in the rendering of the activity “Promotion of cultural and creative industries” in the Operational Programme “Innovation and Competitiveness” for 2014-2020, Priority Axis 2: Entrepreneurship and Capacity for growth of SMEs. The initial steps to introduce new forms of financing, which also reflects the serious turnover generated in the sector were made. In the strategy for the film industry of Sofia, alternative financial instruments such as investment fund and bank guarantees, with which Sofia will support its film industry appeared for the first time.
Indicators at national level regarding cultural and creative industries
Cultural employment (% of total employment) – 3,71%
Value added in cultural sectors (% of value added in total services): All cultural sectors – 4,5%
Exports of cultural goods – 94 mln BGN
Imports of cultural goods – 120 mln BGN
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