19/02/2013 - The European Commission begins an online survey for cultural and creative businesses in Europe

The European Commission has launched an online survey to assess the financial needs of small- and medium-sized businesses in the cultural and creative sectors. The results of this online survey will be used to shape the proposed financial instrument within the Creative Europe programme, which will start in 2014.

In the new EU programme Creative Europe, both media and culture will come together and will also provide a guarantee fund for the cultural and creative industry in Europe, aiming to ensure that access to finance for audiovisual projects will become much easier. The fund is designed for small- and medium-sized businesses in fields such as literature, music, design, architecture, festivals, archives, games and film, and offers banks the possibility to secure various types of loans.

"We want to make sure that our programmes remain relevant and still have that leverage effect in terms of bringing in private investment and an impact effect in terms of reinforcing European competitiveness,” said Aviva Silver (photo), head of the MEDIA programme.

The Commission is calling on small- and medium-sized businesses in the culture and creative industry to participate in this survey so that funds made available can match their needs. The online survey is available until mid-March 2013 here.