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All hubs aim to make a difference to businesses, economies and communities. Creative Hubs have been
around for the last century, but it’s within the last ten years that they have truly become a fast growing
ecosystem across the globe. Beginning with disused space from a post-industrial society, hubs have grown
in all shapes and sizes, housed in structures that were previously factories, ammunition manufacturers,
shipping containers and office buildings, and while the physical world of hubs has expanded, so has the
digital world, with many virtual hubs on the rise. Many hubs provide a wide range of services including:
business start-up and development support in the shape of workshops and mentoring; prototyping and
fabrication space; networking and events; research and development. They also have an impact on their
external environment, regenerating urban and rural areas, while acting as lighthouses for invisible
communities. Being part of a hub makes freelancers and micro SMEs feel part of a larger picture, without it
necessarily meaning that they have to be part of an organisation. Freelancers and micro SMEs, who would
normally work from home, are able to connect, collaborate and share with other like minded people. Being
part of a community increases freelancers’ confidence, experimentation, collaboration and growth.
Together they can pitch for work, access resources and tools, inspire one another and attract investment
as a collective of disciplines. However, they play a crucial role in the future of the creative economy -
boosting economic value, incubating product and service innovations, experimenting and challenging new
ways of working and thinking, as well as being an advocate and a voice for the sector.

Source: https://www.1535.lu/news/european-creative-hubs-network

3.3 EU programmes

The European Union is a knowledge and creativity-intensive economy in which the cultural and creative
sectors play an important role, boosting innovation, growth and job creation. Greater support for creativity
and creative talent is essential to redefine the EU’s approach to growth and innovation in the new
scenario of the digital sharing economy. In the context of the European programming 2021-2027, in fact,
the program specifically dedicated to this sector is Creative Europe is the European Commission’s
framework program for supporting the cultural and audiovisual sectors. Building on previous Culture and
MEDIA programs, it will support Europe’s cultural and creative sectors with a budget of € 1.46 billion (9%
more than its predecessors).

EU Networks

The European Creative Hubs Network is a peer-led network with a mission to enhance the creative,
economic and social impact of hubs. There are many existing creative and cultural networks in Europe,
however, none are specifically tailored to support physical spaces that provide services to multiple creative
businesses.