The general European cultural capital project is based on the idea that cultural industries are crucial to develop regions, attract investors and settlements, give economic growth and identity. The grand challenge in relation to this research theme is to study the impact of Aarhus 2017 as cultural economy and event, its employment, visitors, trends and investment in regard to the regions’ policy and development.

Cultural production in this context includes creative industry as film, TV and computer games production, art projects, museum, sport events, cultural events and festivals, as well as tourism, enterprises and education industries. The aim is to study their impacts on regional development.

By ‘impacts’ we do refer to the economic dimensions of cultural practices such as the marketization of the public sector or investments, but also the impact on values, international and regional collaborations, creativity and how ‘cultural fireballs and passionate participants influence the processes and the cultural vibrancy. In particular we invite research projects that focus on those aspects in the context of the development of Region Midt, but also projects dealing with local communities (e.g. a city) in a regional or in European context.

Central research topics and approaches:

• What are the significant characteristics of the creative industry sector within the Nordic region, and what are the challenges for this sector?
• What are the economic impacts of cultural productions such as Rethink2017?
• How can culture production be incubator and catalyst for regional regeneration?
• What are the impacts of fireballs and individuals engagement within the sector?
• How can we rethink the role of the museums?
• How do we understand creativity, entrepreneurship, professionalism, career and employment within culture industry, and what are the main challenges?
• How can we develop comparative studies between branches, between regions and/or countries?
• How do we understand the encounters of the international and the local?

Specific research projects could address issues and topics related to:

• Specific fields or creative industry as a field in itself, including e.g..
  • Film- and media production; production, history and education
  • Art institutions, art schools and museums 
  • Sport events, cultural events and festivals
  • Tourism, experience industry and cultural entrepreneurs
• Collaborative projects and productions across branches and nations