Cultural and Creative Industries as Cultural Diplomacy

For the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) are a core pillar of cultural diplomacy: they foster dialogue between cultures, strengthen long-term partnerships and enhance France’s global presence.

How is France strengthening its creative and cultural industries, and why does the government consider these sectors essential for economic growth and global influence?

Cultural and creative industries (CCIs) play a strategic role in France’s economy and international influence. According to the EY Panorama of Cultural and Creative Industries 2025, CCIs generate over €102.7 billion in revenue, represent 2.9% of France’s market GDP, and support more than 1.1 million jobs, including direct, indirect and induced employment. Since 2019, their value added has increased by over 21%, a faster growth rate than many traditional industrial sectors.These figures confirm the central role of CCIs as drivers of innovation, attractiveness and soft power. They are now among the top three sectors of the French economy in terms of value creation and employment.

Several public institutions contribute to this dynamic, including the Ministry of Culture, the Institut français and local authorities. For the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, CCIs are a core pillar of cultural diplomacy: they foster dialogue between cultures, strengthen long-term partnerships and enhance France’s global presence.
Between 2020 and 2022, the Ministry launched a dedicated “CCI priority mission” in 37 embassies. Given its success, this approach was extended to the entire diplomatic network. As a result, over 300 CCI projects were supported between 2023 and 2024. Our ambition today is clear: to make the promotion of CCIs a systematic reflex of international cultural cooperation.

Our action focuses on several key priorities: participation in major international events (biennales, festivals and fairs), support for emerging talents, structuring partnerships with public and private stakeholders, investment in fast-growing sectors such as immersive technologies and video games, and the promotion of Francophone cultures and linguistic diversity, particularly in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

What are the most significant government programmes France has launched and how have these programmes made a visible difference?

France’s support for CCIs relies on a broad set of instruments. The Institut français, as the Ministry’s main cultural agency for international cultural cooperation, implements flagship programmes including cultural seasons and artistic residencies.One emblematic model is the network of Villas, which extends the legacy of the Villa Medici. Today, more than 50 residency programmes across seven Villas worldwide support artists and researchers developing projects rooted in dialogue with host countries.

The Ministry also relies on its extensive diplomatic network. Cultural attachés, including specialists in cinema, books and audiovisual sectors, lead dedicated actions to support CCI exports and help structure local ecosystems.To foster innovation, the Cultural and Creative Industries Programme (PICC), implemented since 2022, is a cornerstone of our strategy. It has already supported over 100 projects across all CCI sectors, covering incubation, expertise, networking, promotion and market access. In parallel, major Cultural Seasons, such as France–Brazil 2025, Mediterranean 2026 and Ukraine 2026, provide a powerful framework for co-creation and long-term international partnerships.

Which sectors, such as publishing, film, design, gaming, or museums, show the highest potential for future development?

France’s national CCI strategy covers 14 sectors, with particularly strong international positioning in video games, digital creation, design and fashion, craftsmanship, music, film and audiovisual production.
Digital cultures, including video games, immersive creation and XR, are among the fastest-growing fields. The Novembre Numérique programme enables the French cultural network to deploy ambitious digital programming worldwide and was significantly reinforced in 2025.

While CCIs generate over €102.7 billion in revenue, exports account for only around 17%, revealing strong potential for international growth. This is precisely where France’s diplomatic and cultural network plays a key role.

At the same time, attention is given to emerging or less familiar sectors such as architecture, sound creation, immersive realities, series production and fashion, which represent new opportunities for international development.

Could you highlight how you support the book sector for its export internationally?

The book sector remains a key component of France’s creative economy. In 2024, publishing generated approximately €7.8 billion in revenue, representing nearly 8% of total CCI turnover, according to the EY Panorama 2025.

International support for books relies on a targeted strategy led by the cultural cooperation network, starting with specialized attachés for book. In 2023, 21 expatriate agents dedicated to the book sector were posted in 18 countries, including India.

A central tool is the Publication Assistance Programme (PAP). It provides financial support for translation rights, facilitates professional exchanges and strengthens France’s presence at global events. Participation in international festivals, fairs and markets, thanks to the support of the Cultural and Creative Industries Programme (PICC) are key levers of France’s cultural diplomacy.

A recent example was the invitation of France as Guest of Honour at the Kerala Literature Festival, which saw a delegation of 15 authors and 9 publishing houses from France and a dedicated two-day “Publishers’ Meet” between French publishers and Indian publishers from the southern states.

“The Future of Books” is another such example that gives French publishers the opportunity to participate in three major professional fairs and explore new avenues for collaborations with their Indian counterparts in fast-growing sectors such as audiovisual adaptations, IPs development and digital applications.

Sabine Sciortino is Director for Cultural, Educational, Academic and Scientific Diplomacy at the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), since 17 November 2025. A graduate of Sciences Po Paris with a specialization in international relations, she has served as a career diplomat at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs since 2010. With broad experience in France and abroad — particularly in Asia and the Middle East — she has developed recognized expertise in cultural and educational diplomacy, politico-military affairs, and the management of multicultural teams in crisis environments.