Culture, creativity and experience in Nordic and Scandinavian cultural policy

Abstract

The article examines the impact that the ‘creative industries’ discourse which originated in the UK has had in the Scandinavian and Nordic countries. It is argued that the diversity of the region and the various national policy contexts make it hard to identify any one legacy. The discourse does, however, fit neatly into wider discourses within economic and regional planning that emphasise the roles of cultural and creative activities in industrial transformation and the knowledge economy. It is suggested that despite difficulties defining both ‘creative industries’ and ‘Scandinavia’ there is a role for cross‐border policies aimed at supporting commercial actors through the exploitation of regional economies of scale and scope.

Keywords:

• creative and cultural industries
• Scandinavian
• Nordic
• cultural policy
• regional and economic policy