The cultural industries, which include publishing, music, cinema, crafts and design, continue to grow steadily apace and have a determinant role to play in the future of culture.

Their international dimension gives them a determining role for the future in terms of freedom of expression, cultural diversity and economic development. Although the globalization of exchange and new technologies opens up exciting new prospects, it also creates new types of inequality.

The world map of these industries reveals a yawning gap between North and South. This can only be counteracted by strengthening local capacities and facilitating access to global markets at national level by way of new partnerships, know-how, control of piracy and increased international solidarity of every kind.

• For a comprehensive understanding of cultural industries, browse 25 questions and answers and explore key concepts and ideas related to culture and trade in the context of globalization.
• A basic reference: the Florence Agreement
• Creative Cities Network
• Crafts and Design
• Books and Reading
• World Book and Copyright Day - April 23
• World Book Capital City
• Copyright
• DigiArts