Culture as "counterpower:" How creativity can shape national identity
To foster collaboration across Europe, it is crucial for our team to understand regional innovation ecosystems and meet key players in the cultural and creative sectors. This is particularly important for the directors of our six regional hubs.
Kati Uusi-Rauva, director of our North Regional Hub, participated in a panel discussion this Spring at the German Creative Economy Summit in Hamburg, organized by Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft. Below is a short report she wrote, following the event.
These are turbulent times. It seems that money and power are the primary ways to measure the weight of nations and define the balance between them. But beneath the surface of global politics, we can see how creativity, local cultures and languages, as well as behavioral trends, can also shift our perspectives and shape our direction.
This spring, I had the opportunity to join a panel discussion on culture as a tool in the democratization process at the German Creative Economy Summit.
Pictured: Kati Uusi-Rauva (Left) director of our North Regional Hub, in a panel at the German Creative Economy Summit 2025 together with Nino Kiknadze and John Newbigin, moderated by Alexandra Antwi-Boasiako | Credit: German Creative Economy Summit
My fellow panelists were Nino Kiknadze, a creative industry professional and cultural activist from Georgia specialised, advocating for her country’s cultural independence amid its political storm, and John Newbigin OBE, the founder and first chairman of Creative England and a member of the UK government’s Creative Industries Council.
Culture and creativity are powerful tools. They can support democratization and equality, offer new perspectives, and help us make sense of the world through stories, images, and experiences.
The role of culture in society, particularly in the Caucasus and Middle Eastern countries—regions rich in cultural legacy, ethnic diversity, and a long history of geopolitical power play — was one of the main topics we discussed.
“Creativity plays a crucial role in shaping our democratic values and fostering cultural resilience,” Nino said, explaining that Georgian culture lies at the epicenter of current political developments. John, on the other hand, emphasized that we are truly in the midst of a culture war, felt globally, even as countries like Ukraine fight for their independence: “Alliances of different kinds of powerful forces undermining democracy are engaged in a full-on culture war against the kind of creative, collaborative, open-minded thinking that is the true driving force of culture and underpins our creative economy.”
Creativity, then, becomes a counterforce in the ongoing power struggle — distinct from those who pursue purely political and financial dominance. Culture roots us in our communities, explains and gives meaning to life’s various intricacies, allowing people to have hope and paving the way for innovation.
Creative thinking is the source of innovation. It allows us to create art, reflect on our world, and find new ways to interpret and comment on it. This capacity can be seen as threatening to some. Yet creativity serves many roles: it can reinterpret and redefine our cultures and ways of living, as well as develop new business models, serve clients, and build brands. We need creativity to solve challenges in all aspects of life, not just within traditionally creative industries.
While culture and creative thinking are increasingly discussed in global development contexts, they remain somewhat overlooked in mainstream political debate.
Still, we witness how culture—especially in the forms of art and entertainment—can be harnessed for political aims. More importantly, creative innovations and grassroots trends often influence political popularity, economic directions, and our shared value systems.
When talking about culture, we often forget that it is twofold: both the arts, or so-called high culture, and the culture of everyday life—how we live, express ourselves, and reflect our values. In the 19th century, when Finland was moving toward independence, the arts were used to express the Finnish mentality and folklore. Key cultural works, such as Jean Sibelius’s Finlandia or the national epic Kalevala, remain essential symbols of Finnish identity.
A century later, the electronics corporation Nokia embodied the same spirit of cultural creativity through design and innovation. By making mobile phones more user-friendly, launching the world-famous Nokia tune, the Snake game, and pioneering new mobile aesthetics, the company revolutionized communication. These innovations became iconic and are now just as integral to Finland’s national identity as the cultural products of the so-called Golden Age of Finnish art. Both eras significantly shaped the Finnish national consciousness and how we view our country.
Europe’s cultural heritage and creative legacy are rich and multifaceted—they form the backbone of our shared European identities and ground us within the global community.
Learn more about our Regional Hubs here, and join our Digital Hub to see all our events and connect with Europe’s creative community.
