Creative and cultural hub sustainability: from theory to practice

The ‘Cultural and Creative Hub’ (CCH), serves as platform playing a key role in supporting the socio-economic development of the cultural and creative industries. With diverse manifestations–from regions to independent legal entities–it plays a pivotal role in fostering innovation and supporting inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The scattered information on CCHs globally necessitates a systematic approach to define their activities and economic sustainability comprehensively. This paper aims to validate the practices of cultural and creative hubs: questions regarding their objectives, main activities, and therefore their economic sustainability are explored through an extensive global research initiative, analyzing 587 active hubs in various geographic areas. The study integrates systematic and grey literature reviews, leveraging data from hub networks like the British Council and the European Creative Hubs Network. This research seeks to enhance awareness of cultural and creative hubs through a scientific evaluation of their models and activities, fostering sustainable business practices, cultural diversity, and inclusiveness in the cultural and creative sectors.