Creative FLIP (Finance, Learning, Innovation and Patenting/Intellectual Property Rights) is an EU-funded initiative aimed at strengthening the resilience and sustainability of Europe’s Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSIs). IDEA Consult has been a key partner throughout the project, contributing research, policy expertise and practical tools that support cultural professionals and policymakers across Europe.

The challenge

Cultural and creative sectors play a unique role in fostering inclusive and sustainable growth in Europe. At the same time, the sector is strongly affected by societal developments such as digitalisation, artificial intelligence, the green transition and shifting geopolitical contexts. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed structural vulnerabilities in the sector, including fragile business models, limited access to finance and precarious working conditions. These developments highlighted the urgent need to strengthen the resilience of cultural and creative actors and support them in adapting to ongoing transformations. Through the Creative FLIP initiative, the European Commission aimed to develop common responses to these challenges by improving access to knowledge and finance, testing innovative approaches and strengthening links between cultural stakeholders and policymakers.

Approach & results

Creative FLIP started in 2019 as a Pilot project co-funded by the European Union. Building on the achievements of its Pilot Phase (2019–2021), the project continued as a Preparatory Action (2021–2023). During these phases, the consortium supported cultural and creative sector (CCS) actors by improving access to finance, issuing recommendations for CCS skills classification, piloting innovative learning concepts & enhancing creative skills development, and boosting knowledge management in the field of IPR for the cultural and creative sectors.

To achieve its objectives and maximise impact, Creative FLIP combines several complementary methodologies. These include:

• Research and analysis: mapping exercises, literature reviews, sectoral surveys, interviews and statistical analysis to better understand the CCS ecosystem and identify key challenges.
• Peer learning and experimentation: peer-to-peer exchanges, Learning Laboratories and pilot initiatives allowing cultural professionals to share experiences, test innovative approaches and develop new collaboration models.
• Stakeholder dialogue and policy learning: conferences and interactive workshops bringing together sector stakeholders and policymakers to validate findings and co-create policy recommendations.

Across all phases of the project, IDEA Consult has been responsible for work related to access to finance, policy learning and transformational cultural policy development. Together with experts Sylvia Amann (Inforelais) and Joost Heinsius (Values of Culture & Creativity), IDEA analysed the role policymakers can play in strengthening supportive frameworks for resilient cultural and creative sectors and formulated recommendations in this respect.

IDEA Consult also developed the digital tool “So You Need Money?”, integrated into the Creatives Unite platform. The tool guides cultural and creative actors towards relevant funding sources at EU, national and regional level and provides inspiration and practical tips on how to build a tailored financing mix.

In the current FLIP IV phase, IDEA Consult focuses on strengthening the resilience of the cultural and creative sectors. This includes analysing financing ecosystems and emerging funding mechanisms, producing case studies and educational videos on innovative financing practices, and contributing to policy recommendations aimed at improving access to finance and long-term sustainability of CCS actors. In parallel, IDEA leads work on collaborative transformation policies, exploring how cultural policy can support the sector in responding to digital, green and democratic transitions. The results feed into policy insights and the continued development of the Creatives Unite knowledge base.

Explore Creatives Unite to access case studies, tools and practical resources developed through Creative FLIP: Creatives unite | Finances