Centre for Euro-Asian Studies delivers 'Shaping the Future: Resilience and Innovation in the UK Creative Economy' workshop

Held both in-person and online, the event brought together a diverse group of more than 30 participants, including academics, representatives from the UK creative industries, government officials and experts from international organisations, including the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). This event was sponsored by the British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants Scheme (2024–2026), awarded to the CEAS to investigate resilience strategies of the creative industries in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The workshop aimed to examine resilience strategies within the creative economy, focusing on the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the lessons learned for future growth. The longer term ambition was building a network for the exchange of knowledge between creative professionals, policymakers and academics, along with identifying the opportunities and challenges related to artificial intelligence for Central Asian countries.

Following an opening by Professor Yelena Kalyuzhnova, Director of the CEAS, and Oscar Fast, Associate Economic Affairs Officer in the Innovative Policies Development Section for the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, a series of moderated talks, insightful presentations and breakout discussions were held. These centred on the evolving landscape of the music, crafts, film and visual arts creative sub-sectors, with Professor Kalyuzhnova, Dr Olena Khlystova, Dr Can Ererdi, Professor Maks Belitski and Professor Dorota Bourne taking the role of chair at various points throughout the day.

Participants at the workshop engaged in meaningful discussions about the impact of the pandemic on creative industries, identifying key strategies for fostering resilience and exploring opportunities for sustainable development and innovation in the sector. These discussions facilitated knowledge sharing and collaboration among attendees and even began formulating actionable recommendations for fostering innovation within the sector and policies to support the industry post-crisis.

The workshop underscored the importance of collaboration among stakeholders in academia, industry and policy to address challenges and seize opportunities in the creative economy. The Centre for Euro-Asian Studies extends its gratitude to all participants for their valuable contributions and looks forward to continuing this important dialogue in the future.