The presence and performance of cultural and creative industries in rural regions

This paper examines the presence and performance of cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in rural regions, specifically using the example of the Vysočina Region, and compares it with other regions in the Czech Republic. The main objective is to reflect on the potential and limitations of CCIs outside metropolitan centres and to contribute to the discussion on the spatial specifics of the culture-based economy. The text is based on the assumption that the role of CCIs in the economic and social development of rural regions is often marginalised, even though it can be crucial for diversifying the local economy and strengthening community identity. The study uses a combination of methodological approaches and data sources, in particular mapping of CCI entities in the Vysočina Region, analysis of employment and the economic performance of individual industries. One important part is a comparison of the economic performance of CCIs within three different types of regions – metropolitan, old industrial, and other regions. The structure of the text includes an introductory theoretical section devoted to the spatial organisation of CCIs, an overview of data sources and methods of processing them, and an analytical section evaluating the presence and performance of CCIs. The two summary measures—structural importance and economic performance of CCIs—were constructed as composite indicators based on multiple sub-indices (e.g., employment coefficients, specialisation indices, average wages, revenues, and added value). The main results largely confirm the theoretical findings, i.e. they identify a significant orientation of CCIs located in rural types of regions towards cultural and historical heritage and an overall relatively stable structural balance. At the same time, however, the expected overall lower economic performance of CCIs in rural regions is confirmed. On the other hand, it has been shown that certain industries (such as Books/Printing and Performing Arts) consistently perform above expectations and their position is more significant in rural regions than in other types of areas. The text also suggests the causes and possible implications of this situation. The study points to the need for a regionally sensitive approach to cultural policy, emphasises the importance of so-called second-order cultural infrastructure, and recommends supporting locally based forms of cultural work with an emphasis on community cohesion and sustainable development. Finally, issues related to the effectiveness of public investment in the CCI segment and potential tensions that may arise in the case of merely mechanically adopting support concepts and instruments from other types of territories are also discussed.