The Archipelago of Cultural and Creative Industries: A Case Study of the Basque Country

This article explores the economic structure and impact of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) in the Basque Country. Using data from over 5000 enterprises across 15 CCI sectors—including digital content, publishing, architecture, and language services—the study highlights both the sector's quantitative relevance and structural weaknesses. Despite a fragmented ecosystem primarily composed of microenterprises, certain sub-sectors such as digital media and gastronomy show strong economic output and employment generation. The study also examines public funding mechanisms, revealing asymmetries in entrepreneurial versus creative support allocation. CCIs in the Basque Country function as an "archipelago": a landscape of heterogeneous organisations that includes both commercially competitive firms and non-profit cultural actors. The paper argues for more robust public-private cooperation and smart specialisation policies to address fragmentation and enhance visibility. By aligning creative production with innovation and entrepreneurship frameworks, the Basque CCIs could strengthen their regional and international positioning. These findings are crucial for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to integrate CCIs into broader strategies for regional development, innovation, and economic diversification.