Impact Study: UNESCO-Aschberg Programme for Artists and Cultural Professionals

The EPA and the Cultural Protocol offer a level of predictability and transparency. While there are development provisions enshrined in the legal text itself, the specific Protocol on Cultural Cooperation is also important. The development cooperation provisions are sufficiently broad to allow CARIFORUM to determine their developmental needs and develop strategies for enhancing the sector. Through the Export Strategy for the Cultural and Creative Industries developed in 2015, the Agency was able to address challenges and opportunities. This included capacity building at the enterprise and business support level and technical assistance. Under the 10th EDF Regional Private Sector Programme, 15% of the awards under the Direct Assistance Grant Scheme (DAGS) were directed to the creative industries. The implementation of the EPA and the Protocol on Cultural Cooperation has been slow but steady. In the framework of its 10th and 11th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme, Caribbean Export continues to support the increased capacity of the sector. Interventions for culture in the music, fashion, craft, audiovisual andanimation sectors have led tomore business-orientedactions and to an increase in the quality of goods and services produced. The interventions have also led to better marketing and labelling, and to increased understanding of intellectual property rights and of the EPA. Understanding the cultural value chain has also allowed practitioners to take advantage of opportunities. In the music sector, there has been a particular focus on the music business and on increasing trade digitally. However, a few issues remain, namely visa requirements for CARIFORUM entry to operate within the EU (e.g. limited to tourismpurposes, or excluding multiple entries) and the unclear interpretation of the Economic Needs Test. These issues must be addressed for proper implementation of the EPA and the Protocol. S. H. Allyson Francis Services Specialist, Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA)

Under the 10 th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme, CEDA launched a series of export promotion platforms and facilitated the participation of regional SMEs and BSOs in trade missions and business linkages events, all of which have enhanced the regional private sector’s engagement with the Agency. In fact, between 2011 and 2014, 51% of the event participants were from the creative industries 46 .

64 Culture in the CARIFORUM-EU EPA

46. See Caribbean Export & EPA Implementation in the Caribbean Services Sector (2011-2014), 7 January 2018 at www.carib-export.com/publications/epa-implementation-in-the-caribbean- services-sector/ .