An ECBN expert forum argues that to build entrepreneurial cities, we need to end the isolation of the creative industries. Gemma Hutchinson reports on a workshop programmed by ECBN MD Leo van Loon at Het Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam – Cities: Entrepreneurship and Creative Crossovers – as part of the 6th Asia-Europe Culture Ministers Meeting (ASEM) from 19-21 October 2014.

This city – creative, inclusive and innovative – is one with the right conditions where creative individuals and creative industries can take risks: the Risky City.

Creativity is now widely viewed as a crucial component of successful economies and societies. With the rise of the creative and cultural industries, the difference they can make to the way people live and work is increasingly being recognised. This shift of emphasis includes a renewed focus on creative crossovers: the way in which the creative industries can help catalyse innovation in other sectors, whether through the products and services they provide, or as a means of originating and spreading new ideas, knowledge and ways of working.

Cities are also at the forefront of this rise, as they are crucial in the development of creative clusters, that make cities punch above their weight and which are uniquely connected internationally. What would a city need to be the most creative, inclusive and innovative city in the world?

On 20 October 2014, nine experts from across Europe and Asia came together to tackle this question in a workshop organised by Leo van Loon (Managing Director of Buzinezzclub, ECBN and CEO of PopVox) in cooperation with the European Creative Business Network (ECBN) and Het Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam. This city – creative, inclusive and innovative – is one with the right conditions where creative individuals and creative industries can take risks: the Risky City.

After a day of exchanging ideas, experiences and examples of best practice, the experts agreed that in order for a city to be creative and inclusive, there needs to be an end to isolated thinking toward the creative industries and that creative professionals need to be better integrated across other sectors. Members offered each other new perspectives and together tackled the big issues involved, from economic policy to community, education to market demand. Their vision was then presented at the ASEM Culture Ministers’ Meeting and has been documented in a full report – available to read or download below.