As the urgency of the climate crisis intensifies, the role of cultural and creative industries is evolving beyond storytelling and awareness-raising. These sectors are now being called upon to actively shape sustainable futures—not only through their artistic output, but by embedding sustainability into the core of their business models. In this context, innovative initiatives across Europe are helping CCIs align with the EU Green Deal and transition toward greener, more resilient ways of operating.
A 2024 survey by the European Commission’s DG GROW on Needs and challenges of the cultural and creative industries reported that access to finance, sustainability, digitalisation and skills are pressing issues. Addressing 155 respondents, mostly SMEs, highlighted that many CCIs don’t yet operate on fully sustainable or structured business models.
CreaSus Sustainable Business Models
In line with the European Commission objectives of assisting CCSIs to acquire skills and knowledge on greening of the value chain, CreaSus aims to help tackle this issue by developing 3 sustainable business models for cultural and creative industries.
The models will address problem and pain points, take account of target groups, the market, the unique value proposition and innovative elements of the industry and assess revenue and financial model.
Work has begun on this deliverable earlier this year by the CreaSus partner WestBIC, a Business Innovation Centre based in the West of Ireland. WestBIC is part of the EU BIC network, which has over 120 BICs throughout the EU and provide advice for start-ups from all sectors on business plans, financials projection and business model development.
The approach to creating the 3 sustainable business models began with brainstorming which types of business models would be most relevant and applicable. It was decided that the chosen sectors would coincide with the sectors who are onboarding to the self-assessment pilot program. As a result, the chosen business models so far are based on museums, theatre companies, and film studios.
Starting from this premise, the business models are quite adaptable and relevant to many sectors and industries. The business models take all aspects into account, including for instance, in the case of a theatre company, pre-production, production, and post-production.
A Business Model Canvas Template has also been created, so that CCSIs can work on their own companies in their own time. As of now, one completed Business Model Canvas for a CCSI has been completed. This deliverable is on track to be completed by the end of 2025, and the goal is to also supply case studies from the creative and cultural industry of real-life examples: companies that have successfully implemented sustainable business models and have reaped the rewards for doing so. This will hopefully provide inspiration to those who may be at an early stage in their sustainable transition.
