On 22 January at the Grand Hôtel in Stockholm, eXpression Umeå, Region Västerbotten and Umeå Municipality are organising a national seminar on the future with researchers, decision-makers, experts and leading contractors. The aim is to highlight how important creators are in shaping the sustainable development of the future - how they challenge everything from business models to forms of collaboration and are a constant source of new inspiration. Participants include Shima Niavarani, actress and artist, Clara Lidström, digital entrepreneur, author and opinion leader, Jerry Engström, entrepreneur and former global head of marketing at Fjällräven, and Lotta Ahlvar, trend expert and textile designer.

In connection with the opening of Västerbotten at Grand Hôtel 2020, the start of three weeks on sustainable leadership, eXpression Umeå, together with Region Västerbotten and Umeå Municipality, is organizing a national seminar with the theme: "Creative and artistic entrepreneurship paves the way" where both value-creating networks and future sustainable entrepreneurship are in focus.

Together with leading creators, decision-makers, investors and researchers, it discusses the importance of cutting-edge cultural, creative and artistic industries for new business models, sustainable development and cross-border collaboration.

- As one of Sweden's leading incubators for cultural, creative and artistic industries, we have an important role to play in promoting industries that in many ways lead the way, says Marlene Johansson, CEO of eXpression Umeå. Today, the creative industries are high on the agenda in Swedish politics, not least in terms of their importance for the Swedish export industry and how creative entrepreneurship is breaking new ground and is an important part of shaping the sustainable business of the future. These are creators who are already taking their place in the national and international arena, and there is much to learn from them.

- The creative industries are strong throughout northern Sweden, in both urban and rural areas, so it feels incredibly important that they are given a place during our joint weeks at the Grand Hôtel," says Thomas Hartman, head of the External Relations and Strategic Location Development Unit at Region Västerbotten. With the digital transformation, the global market has become much more accessible in a short period of time and new opportunities are emerging all the time. It is very exciting to see how the creative industries are adapting, finding new ways forward and challenging traditional patterns - this is and has been a success factor for Västerbotten.

The day will include lectures, panel discussions and interviews reflecting the strong growth and opportunities in the creative industries.

The talks are attended by Shima Niavarani, actress and performer, Clara Lidström, digital entrepreneur, author and opinion leader, Jerry Engström, entrepreneur and former global marketing manager at Fjällräven and Lotta Ahlvar, trend expert and textile designer.
In addition Anna Lidström, researcher at Borås Textile College, designer and stylist, Demian Horst, Deputy Head of Department at Umeå School of Design, Anna Parry, co-founder of the design studio Proto Proto, Anna Olofsson, marketing manager Umeå municipality and Maria Bengtsson, Professor at the Umeå School of Business.

The day is led by Annakarin Nyberg, researcher, entrepreneur and business developer at eXpression Umeå.
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FACTS ON CULTURAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES (CCIS):

Cultural and creative industries (CCIs) consist of enterprises with cultural or creative processes as their business idea or as their raw material. There are also businesses that build on the creativity of others, for example through distribution and trade or through the development of digital services with cultural content. (Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth)

According to Tillväxtverket, KKN is an umbrella term for fifteen sectors: architecture, design and creation, film, photography, art, cultural heritage, literature, media and marketing communication, fashion, music, food, performing arts, handicrafts, game development and experience-based learning. The core of cultural industries is the artistic work.
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For more information:

Marlene Johansson
​CEO eXpression Umeå
​marlene.johansson@expressiomumea.se
​070-674 95 39

Thomas Hartman
​Head of Unit, External Relations and Strategic Site Development at Region Västerbotten
​thomas.hartman@regionvasterbotten.se
070-666 49 95