More companies are joining Skaraborg’s cultural and creative industries

These industries include everything from photography and film to arts & crafts, architecture and the performing arts. Such industries are growing and evolving in Skaraborg – they include the self-employed investing in their passions and major international companies.

“There’s a very broad spectrum of companies in Skaraborg. There are major skills at the highest level.”

Ingrid Skarp is one of the project managers in the Creative Skaraborg initiative, which seeks to promote and strengthen Skaraborg’s cultural and creative industries. Today, more than 250 companies are members. In simple terms, Ingrid and her colleague Martina Söderhielm have three assignments: visibility, networking and skills enhancement.

“In the project, we’ve developed a website where people can find local creative talent. One of our goals is to help more people find the skills they’re looking for among our creators here in Skaraborg. Just like they do when they’re buying food and choosing local produce.”

“Many professional companies in such a small area”

Ingrid tells us that exciting developments are taking place in Skaraborg, with more and more people venturing to invest in businesses in the cultural and creative industries. She also describes the emergence of clusters in Skaraborg.

“There are many professional companies in such a small area. For example, we have many skilled potters thanks to our heritage in ceramics. Skövde as a computer gaming Mecca is a more modern aspect and growing fast. There are also many artists in Kinnekulle and its surroundings. And culinary art in Skaraborg is outstanding.”

Many of our companies have made breakthroughs far beyond Skaraborg. These include the comedy troupe Kass Humor, which is involved in SVT productions, and the internationally renowned photographer Erik Johansson who opened the Svenstorp Art Center on his childhood farm in Götene municipality.

Skaraborg – there’s always a welcome

In addition to making companies more visible, Ingrid and Martina are always busy strengthening networks between creators. They hold regular networking meetings and organize study visits and training courses. They also work to help more people discover the sheer breadth of Skaraborg’s cultural and creative industries.

“We’ve held successful meetings where we let creative entrepreneurs meet completely different industries. It’s rewarding to see the encounters and collaborations that occur.”

Another important task Ingrid and Martina share is welcoming Skaraborg’s newly arrived creators and helping them find their feet and a local context. By inviting them to join different networks and training courses, they try to provide as much support as they can. But being welcomed into Skaraborg’s creative community is not usually a problem for people who move here.

“When I moved here from Gothenburg ten years ago I was told that becoming part of the community could be difficult, but that was not at all my experience. There’s an openness and every opportunity to make new contacts. I’ve seen an increase in the number of creators investing in their own businesses during my time in Skaraborg. We see many returning artists, and the interest in local creators is on the increase. New cultural arts associations are always popping up in Skaraborg, and interest in personal creativity seems to be on the rise.”