Profile: Cultural and Creative Industries
The Department of Culture, Creative Media and Industries is the only university department in Greece dedicated to the study of Cultural Sciences and the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI). The CCI sector is a vital part of the modern knowledge economy, driven by creativity, artistic expression, cultural heritage, and innovation. These industries play a cross-cutting role in both social and economic development, encompassing activities that produce and distribute goods and services with cultural, artistic, or entertainment value—whether for commercial or public purposes.
CCI fields include audiovisual media (film, television, radio, video, video games), music (production, composition, live performance), publishing (books, magazines, newspapers), visual arts (painting, sculpture, photography), crafts, performing arts (theatre, dance, performance), architecture, design (graphic, industrial, fashion), cultural heritage management (museums, archaeological sites, cultural festivals), advertising and marketing, digital content production, and the development of new technologies. Although three-quarters of the Gross Value Added in the cultural sector is concentrated in the Attica region, studies show that small and medium-sized cities in Greece also hold significant untapped creative potential. When supported by coherent policies, academic research, and community involvement, this potential can deliver meaningful results. The CCI sector has the capacity to diversify the national economy and foster entrepreneurial growth.
The Department’s undergraduate curriculum promotes an interdisciplinary approach to culture and cultural production in contemporary environments. According to UNESCO’s International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 2013), the program is primarily classified under “Inter-disciplinary programmes and qualifications involving arts and humanities” (0288), representing 87% of its ECTS credits.
The Department’s vision is to educate graduates with a broad range of knowledge and skills, preparing them for diverse professional opportunities within the wider cultural economy. Its educational philosophy is founded on the belief that theoretical and critical approaches to culture, grounded in the humanities, must be structurally combined with design, hands-on research, and the applied practices of the cultural and creative industries. As a result, graduates will be equipped both theoretically and practically to meet the demands of cultural management and cultural production alike.