Conversations with my nephew are always interesting and inspiring. Recently, at the family get-together he was trying to convince me to set up a blog and to encourage me, he gave me a link to his own one. A young psychologist – he has just defended his master’s thesis – claimed enthusiastically that this is the most prospective form of communication. Nowadays, it is difficult to deny this conviction, however, as a man of a bygone age, I appreciate face-to-face contact more than the Internet writing. However, this is not the subject that I have intended to write about.

With the course of discussion Szymon expressed one more important view concerning websites, blogs etc. He claimed that for him one of the most vital elements is the ability to comment and that each and every message edited on the Internet should give the reader this opportunity. When I said that I myself read comments very rarely he was convincing me that they are as interesting for him as the material they apply to.

Why am I writing this in the issue devoted to creative industries? First of all, because our discussion reflects more and more visible image of the society that have so much free time that its members are able to write about and comment a variety of topics. Secondly, it shows what the power of the Internet is, especially for younger generation and creative industries as a creation of the recent years are closely connected with it. Thirdly and most importantly, rich and diverse interests of Szymon – psychology, psychology of advertising, marketing, literature, arts and music – seem to be a symptom for functioning of a well – educated participant of a ‘global world’.
 
Creative industries have been established in response to new needs of informatised, post-modernist society in which product of culture is equally important as industrial product. We not only surround ourselves with useful objects but also we make our life more and more aesthetic thanks to the access to more sophisticated cultural goods. I would like to make a distinction between the term ‘cultural industries’ and ‘creative industries’. In Poland these expressions are often used interchangeably but it should be remembered that the latter means something a little different and has a wider scope. Creative industries are often defined as the ones based on intellectual property. The branches which constitute this term are: music, art, literature, film, computer games, software but also advertising, public relations and some people also include tourism and recreation within this term.  

Although creative industries function as a sector of economy not for long, they have quickly began its important part and their influence will become even bigger. Their significant element is interdisciplinarity and international character. They also become an area of intellectual thought e.g. at some universities the institutes considered with this branch were created. Queen’s University in Belfast has the Centre for Creative Industry which is a part of The Creative Industry Research and Development Network (CIRN). This international network defines its most important tasks as:

1. Creating the team of scientists, practitioners and politicians to understand better the organisation and management of creative activity in knowledge-based economy.

2. Focusing on:
a) examining basic aspects of the creative process within various industries and contexts;
b) streamlining the practice of the organisation and management of creative process in various branches and contexts;
c) supporting and increasing the contribution of creative industries in the social and economic development through the ideas, experiences, products and services.
3. Streamlining and expanding international research, investment and organisational links within this activity.

4. Getting additional resources for strengthening this activity through research and development grants, projects and sponsorship. 

5. Coordination, promotion and dissemination of specialised knowledge and good practices both within the network and outside.

Observing exceptionally fast development of this sector of economy in the world we also should pay greater attention to creative industries, including cultural industry in our country. It is a pity that despite positive opinions the project of postgraduate studies on entrepreneurship in culture, proposed by the TRIO Partnership – culture, entrepreneurship, work -  did not receive the funds (The project of Purpose, Łódź Municipal Office and Academy of Management in Łódź).