DISCE Project

About

Overall, the ambitious objectives of DISCE are:

• To support the development patterns of the CCIs within the EU through improved indicators on their performance;
• To contribute to the economy through research on career perspectives, skills development, new business models and inclusive growth;
• To re-shape understanding of what ‘inclusive and sustainable growth’ consists of in this context, shifting the CCIs (and CCIs policy) towards strategic goals of ‘cultural development’ that encompass both GDP and human flourishing.

Approach

The DISCE project combines a range of methodologies to maximise its robustness as well as its reach and impact:

Quantitative mapping and statistical analysis to give a better understanding of the inclusive and sustainable development of CCIs in Europe

Case studies to provide in-depth understanding of issues of growth, inclusivity and sustainability in specific case study city-regions

Interactive workshops and co-creation events to engage with stakeholders to validate the policy relevance of the project and co-design and co-produce the research to achieve long-term impact and sustainability

The Themes

• CCIs Identification, mapping and statistics
• Creative careers: from education and skills development to inequalities and activism
• Business models and innovation
• Cultural development
• Policy and stakeholder interaction

Consortium

The DISCE Consortium puts together academic and stakeholder partners with a variety of complementary skills and competencies, joining their knowledge to tackle challenges of the Cultural and Creative sector from different points of view.

The Consortium is working closely for three years to provide new science-based evidence and policy options to support the development of Cultural and Creative Industries in Europe.

Academic & Stakeholder Partners

• SSE Riga
• The University of Turku (UTU) - inland’s second largest multidisciplinary university, is an internationally competitive research-led university whose operation is based on high-level research.
• King’s College London (KCL) - one of the top 25 universities in the world (2016-17 QS international world rankings) and the fourth oldest university in England. 
• The Gran Sasso Science Institute (GSSI) - an international doctoral school and a research centre in Social Sciences, Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science.
• CUMEDIAE - a Brussels based international non-profit agency providing consultancy services in the field of CCIs European wide. It was founded under the direct influence of the UNESCO 2005 Convention on Cultural diversity objectives and guiding principles.
• Trans Europe Halles (TEH) - a Europe-based network of cultural centres initiated by citizens and artists that has been at the forefront of re-purposing Europe’s industrial buildings for arts, culture and activism since 1983.