This document updates our strategic framework for the arts, libraries and museums, which were set out in separate documents: Achieving great art for everyone (2010) and Culture, knowledge and understanding (2011).

In Australia and internationally, there is strong interest in the role of ‘cultural’ and ‘creative’ activity in the economy, such as highlighted recently by Australia’s National Cultural Policy, Creative Australia. These terms are often used to describe activities connected with the arts, media, heritage, design, fashion and information technology.

The UK's creative economy is one of its great national strengths, historically deeply rooted and accounting for around one-tenth of the whole economy. It provides jobs for 2.5 million people – more than in financial services, advanced manufacturing or construction – and in recent years, this creative workforce has grown four times faster than the...

This report explores diverse pathways to development through the culture and creative industries and analyses the ways in which they can be strengthened and widened to achieve the expected results of inclusive social and economic development.

"Since 2004, the city of Yokohama, has become one of the frontier creative cities in Asia by launching its creative city policy known as Creative City Yokohama. Yokohama’s creative city policy – unlike its western counterparts – has been positively evaluated for its aim not only to reform urban infrastructure but also to regenerate local...