The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) recently organized the Creative Industries Satellite Account (CISA) Workshop in Iloilo City. The workshop, held from April 23-26, 2024, aimed to enhance the Philippines' creative economy by focusing on dynamic mapping and data collection. The event covered various topics, including the role of creative industries in economic development, dynamic mapping techniques, and conducting macro-level economic impact assessments. Deputy National Statistician Divina Gracia Del Prado and representatives from different PSA offices participated in the workshop. The creative economy in the Philippines contributed 7.1 percent to the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2023, amounting to PHP 1.72 trillion [8a98c7b5].
This workshop reflects the Philippines' commitment to harnessing the potential of its creative industries. By gathering data and mapping the creative economy, the DTI and PSA aim to better understand its impact on the overall economy and identify areas for growth and development. The workshop also highlights the importance of data-driven decision-making in promoting the creative industry and maximizing its contributions to economic development [8a98c7b5] [d045f1b6].
The workshop in the Philippines aligns with the efforts of Uganda and Ghana to tap into the potential of their creative industries. Both countries recognize the importance of the creative sector in generating income, creating jobs, and driving economic growth. Uganda's Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) has pledged its commitment to support the creative industry, while Ghana aims to establish itself as a creative powerhouse by leveraging its cultural heritage and fostering collaboration among artists and creatives [d045f1b6] [80b67c55].
However, challenges remain for all three countries in terms of financing and integrating creative industries into national development plans. Sheila Ngatia, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, emphasized the need for integrating creative industries into Uganda's national development plans. In Ghana, strategic investments, enhancement of the educational curriculum, strengthening of copyright protection, and provision of legal aid for creatives are seen as crucial measures for the growth and sustainability of the creative industry. The recent workshop in the Philippines adds to the ongoing efforts to address these challenges and unlock the full potential of the creative economy [8a98c7b5] [d045f1b6] [80b67c55].
UCLA's Innovation, Culture, and Creativity project, supported by the National Science Foundation's directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), will fund a series of multidisciplinary regional workshops beginning this summer in the United States. The workshops aim to bring together artists, institutions, and people working in the creative and technology sectors to support research and innovation at the intersection of culture, creativity, and technology. The yearlong project hub, funded with a $1.3 million investment from the NSF, will support seven workshops in California, Hawaii, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, and Washington, D.C. The workshops will generate new networks and connections and support participants in thinking broadly about new types of innovation and R&D support. The insights gained from these regional meetings will inform a national conference planned for December 2024 at UCLA. The goals of the project are to examine the role of regional culture in strengthening innovation ecosystems, support the competitiveness of America's creative sector, and develop strategies to expand and diversify the country's STEM workforce. The regional workshops will cover topics such as integrating indigenous knowledge and creative computational media, inclusive innovation, integrating arts and culture into Kansas City's critical materials and biologics, design justice, ethical black artificial intelligence ecosystems, indigenous pathways to planning sustainable futures, and developing dramaturgical strategies for AI and XR alongside NYC's contemporary performance scene. [a150a0eb]