Searching for a link between social capital and the cultural and creative industries

Straipsnyje analizuojamas socialinis kapitalas ir kultūros bei kūrybinių industrijų galimos tarpusavio sąveikos. Siekiama ne tik aptarti mažiau Lietuvoje tirto socialinio kapitalo teorines prieigas, tačiau kartu analizuojamos ir kultūros bei kūrybinės industrijos. Norima atskleisti socialinio kapitalo, suvokiamo kaip savito socialinio tinklo, sąsajas su kultūros bei kūrybinėmis industrijomis, kurios, siekdamos vystytis, turi naudoti tuos pačius socialinio kapitalo tinklo įgalinimo būdus. Taip pat straipsnyje pateikiami atlikto empirinio tyrimo, analizuojančio socialinio kapitalo nuostatas, rezultatai.The article aims to reveal the importance of social capital in the development of cultural and creative industries for a possible interaction scenario. In the Lithuanian academic world at this time there is a lack of studies and research concerning social capital and the cultural and creative industries. Currently, we only have a limited number of studies regarding social capital, cultural, and creative industries. However, in terms of the global academic world we see a growing interest for such studies. The object of this article is to investigate the link between social capital and the cultural and creative industries. The objectives of this article are as follows: 1. To analyse the modern concept of social capital. 2. To identify social capital and the cultural and creative industries in the dimensions of interaction. 3. Empirically research the links between social capital, cultural, and creative industries. This paper analyses the theoretical social capital and the cultural and creative industries, the related concepts, operating principles, and various other aspects. It was noted in the article that social capital is formed and acts as a sort of social network. The development of the cultural and creative industries is considered the basis of the cluster (in the same social networking terms of its operating principles). It also provides empirical evidence from which to assert that social capital can be a focus of cultural and creative industries support. The study shows that social capital and the cultural and creative sectors in Lithuania lack scientific research, especially in terms of the development possibilities of the links between social capital dimensions and the cultural and creative industries. This can be emphasised by the fact that there has been an increased concentration of cultural and creative industry support activities. At the same time, social capital through trust, joint activities and cooperation has strengthened the cultural and creative industries. It is argued that social capital and the cultural and creative industries maintain a close interaction that further study can contribute to as the social capital of focus increases in the development of the cultural and creative industries (through the dimensions of social capital)