Cultural industries and responsible investment: What are the issues?

ulture is an indisputable pillar of sustainable development. The cultural and creative industries make an important contribution to GDP globally, but also help to foster social cohesion. Financing has the potential to positively transform economies, notably through the integration of environmental and social concerns. Today, many investors give consideration to the social and environmental impacts of their investment decisions, and choose to finance companies with responsible practices. Yet the cultural and creative industries, among the world’s fastest growing sectors, remain largely absent from corporate investment strategies. In 2021, the Responsible Investment Forum (FIR) launched a working group for "Responsible Investment and Culture", with the aim of bringing the financial community and cultural actors closer together. This conference will mark the culmination of the group's discussions and way forward.