ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN CULTURAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES AS A FACTOR PROMOTING REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The term creative industries began to be used in the second half of the nineties of last century, and since then it has started to appear in scientific research as well in the policy planning documents and processes in Latvia. For example, The Sustainable Development Strategy of Latvia until 2030 emphasizes both the importance of creative industries and the connection with the formation of a creative urban environment. The National Development Plan of Latvia for 2021-2027 highlights the importance of development of small businesses, including in creative industries and tourism in economically weaker regions. However, the development of creative industries entrepreneurship in the regions of Latvia is a little-studied topic so far. Previous studies on creative industries focus on their development in Riga, on their role in economic development and on general conceptual ideas. Aim of this study is to analyse activities set in the municipal planning documents to promote the development of creative industries and to assess the impact of creative industries entrepreneurship on regional development. The research is based on the analysis of the regional policy planning documents and on interviews with representatives of creative industries and with regional development planners. Research results showed that, while national policy planning documents stress that creative industries have an important role in the regional development, only a small number of local development plans highlight this role. Moreover, these documents are not always properly and effectively implemented. On the other hand, case studies showed that appropriate initiatives foster entrepreneurship in creative industries and they can play a key role in regional development.