all projects

The economic and
social situation of the
creative industries

Client

Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media

Year

ongoing

Partner

Bundesverband Freie Darstellende Künste e.V.


The covid pandemic has brought the sometimes difficult working conditions of the estimated 376,000 solo self-employed people in the cultural and creative industries, into focus. As a result, the governing coalition is endeavouring to improve the social situation of freelance artists and other creatives. Together with the Federal Association of the Free Performing Arts (Bundesverband Freie Darstellende Künste e. V.), Prognos was commissioned to determine the current situation for this group of people.

Gathering reliable data on the social situation of solo self-employed people

Solo self-employed and hybrid workers in the cultural and creative professions are often subject to large fluctuations in income. Therefore, in times of crisis, they are much less likely to have sufficient social security cover. The aim of the study is to obtain a sound and as detailed as possible overview of the situation of solo and hybrid workers in this sector. The results will facilitate the identification of the measures that could improve the social situation of freelance workers in the cultural and creative industries.

Our approach

Prognos will look to the expertise of industry federations and other stakeholders to create the survey for solo self-employed people and then conduct analysis of the data collected. As a part of this, specialist discussions are held with selected representatives of the industry in advance. As well as these discussions, a kick-off event with industry representatives was held on September 1, 2023. Both of these activities enable us to prepare the survey campaign in a targeted manner. The aim of the study is to obtain the most differentiated picture of the current situation possible. Particular attention is being paid to the effects of the covid pandemic. This enables the identification of potential funding gaps and further action requirements. 

Survey on the economic and social situation in creative professions

The centrepiece of the study is an online survey. Solo self-employed and hybrid workers from the cultural and creative industries were invited to take part in the survey and thus make an active contribution to shaping a more customised social security system. The survey ran until 24 March 2024.

Presentation of results

The results of the study will be presented on 15 October. Michael Kellner, Parliamentary State Secretary and the Federal Government's contact person for the cultural and creative industries at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, and Dr Andreas Görgen, Head of Office of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, will begin by outlining the significance of the study. They will then present the most important findings and the recommendations for action derived from them.

In a panel with representatives of the Bundestag and the cultural and creative industries, perspectives on the social and economic situation of self-employed cultural and creative professionals in Germany will be discussed. Participating in the panel discussion are:

  • Helge Lindh, Member of the Bundestag (SPD),
  • Olaf Zimmermann, German Cultural Council
  • Marianne Neumann, musician
  • RP Kahl, film director
  • Steffi Bieber-Geske, children's and youth book publisher

Please register via the event link below.

Project team: Dr Olaf Arndt, Klaudia Lehmann, Bianca Creutz, Kathleen Freitag, Dr Anna Heugel, Arun Mahato, Sören Mohr

Latest update: 01.10.2024

News from the project

Presentation of the study on the economic and social situation in the cultural and creative industries

| Event

The results of our study on the economic and social situation of solo self-employed and hybrid workers in the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) will be presented at the event.

Do you have questions?

Your contact at Prognos

Dr Olaf Arndt

Partner, Head of Region & Location

View profile

Klaudia Lehmann

Senior Project Manager

View profile

Mehr Studien & Projekte zu diesem Thema

More studies & projects on this topic

KreativLand Baden-Württemberg

2024
| Project

Creatives in the countryside? As scientific partner in the model project KreativLand Baden-Württemberg, Prognos examined the status quo, the opportunities and the challenges facing creatives living and working outside of the urban centres and regions.

Dossier: Cultural and creative industries in the metaverse

2024
| Project update

The feature dossier addresses which opportunities and challenges the metaverse might hold for the sub-markets of the cultural and creative industries.

Evaluation of the Kultusministerkonferenz

2023
| Project

Prognos analysed tasks, structures and processes on behalf of the Kultusministerkonferenz – the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK). The evaluation recommended the fundamental development of the KMK.

Blockchain in the creative industry

2022
| Project

Technology enables new business models for creative professionals. And offers solutions for key industry challenges.

Cross-innovation success factors for the cultural and creative industries

2022
| Project

Interdisciplinary cooperation and innovation are characteristic of the cultural and creative industries. Prognos investigated which factors promote cross-industry cooperation.

Economic assessment of the development of Bremerhaven’s shipyard quarter

2022
| Project

The shipyard quarter in Bremerhaven is to be given a new lease of life. Prognos will analyse the medium- to long-term regional economic effects of the transformation of the district.

Promoting Cultural and Creative Industries in the EU

2021
| News

The research paper "Promoting Cultural and Creative Industries in the EU" provides an overview of the European Union's funding instruments for cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in the new funding period 2021-2027.

German Competence Centre for Cultural & Creative Industries

ongoing
| Project

Corona-affliction, the research landscape, and the cultural and creative industries’ digital business models. We are one of the project promoters for the Federal Cultural and Creative Industries Competence Centre.

CREATIVE.REPORT

2019
| Project

The creative report from CREATIVE.NRW provides facts and figures about the creative industries in NRW. The data was collected and evaluated by Prognos.

About us

Prognos – Providing Orientation.

Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound.

Learn more