Author: Chang, Shaun

Source: Creative Industries Journal, Volume 1, Number 3, 1 August 2009 , pp. 263-273(11)

Publisher: Intellect

Abstract:

The Chinese government proposed to upgrade its manufacturing-driven economy to a creative and innovation-based economy by developing cultural industries. Developing cultural industries involves a process of cultural modernization demanding a whole series of economic, legal and socio-urban structures within which these industries can thrive.

In China, the essence of the cultural industry reforms is to open up the country's cultural market and facilitate the development of a cultural economy, whilst retaining the government's tight grip of content. The partial privatization operations under the party-controlled system have caused years of conflict between commercial and public interests. Examples can be found from the case study of a government-sponsored creative cluster, International Creative Industries Alliance (ICIA), Beijing.

As the cultural industries began with the exterior sectors of the industries, the reforms have brought little impact to the core sector the content industry. But the reforms have allowed creative entrepreneurs a more relaxed environment to produce creative content. With the growing power of Chinese consumers and the speedy technological convergence, the relations between creative entrepreneurs and the government have entered a new phase.

As China rapidly embraces market socialism, Chinese society has started to recognize the importance of creativity and individual expression. Although the top-down party-controlled model of state-run media stays unchanged, commercial interests and consumer demands are the driving forces to push for a more diverse and creative Chinese society.

Keywords: cultural industries; cultural and creative industries; cultural industry reforms; International Creative Industries Alliance Beijing; ICIA

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1386/cij.1.3.263_1

Affiliations: 1: Founder, wenhuaindustry ; Lecturer, School of Journalism and Communication, China Youth University, Beijing, China.

Publication date: 2009-08-01

More about this publication?

• The scope of the Creative Industries Journal is global, primarily aimed at those studying and practicing activities which have their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent, and which have a potential for wealth creation. These activities primarily take place in advertising, architecture, the art and antiques market, crafts, design, fashion, film, interactive leisure software, music, the performing arts, publishing, television and radio.We are pleased to announce that the Creative Industries Journal has been included in the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) list 2010.
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