ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

Creative Future Insights 2025 is the 3rd International Scientific Conference about the creative industry and its role in today's economy. The topic of this year's conference is Creativity of Othering in the Age of Migration, and the conference will explore a timely and thought-provoking theme: the impact of "othering" cultures and traditions on mainstream and local traditions in the fast-changing global landscape of migration.

The creative industries, as one of the fastest-growing sectors of the European Union’s economy, play a pivotal role in this transformative period. By fostering innovation, cultural exchange, and entrepreneurial opportunities, the creative sector contributes not only to economic development but also to the evolution of identity and cultural dialogue in today's interconnected world. However, the concept of "othering"—the cultural distancing and marginalization of groups outside the dominant tradition—raises important questions about the integration of diverse influences in creative practices and their broader impact on social and cultural dynamics.

We invite researchers, practitioners, and industry experts to contribute their insights into how these dynamics play out in the creative industries. Specifically, we will examine the extent to which "othering" affects cultural production and how marginalized cultures influence and transform the creative and cultural economies of host societies. How does the migration of people, traditions, and cultural practices alter the creative ecosystems of the societies they encounter? How does woke culture, rooted in awareness and activism around social inequalities, impact the portrayal, inclusion, and monetization of "othered" cultures in creative industries? What is the impact of "othering" cultures on artistic literary, dramatic, musical, and visual practices, design, media, heritage and heritage presentation, IT, and the gaming industry?

"Othering" across many creative fields can either reinforce cultural marginalization or provide opportunities for dialogue and redefinition. The interaction between mainstream and "othered" cultures creates both challenges and opportunities for innovation, cultural exchange, and self-representation. While dominant cultures may often commodify or distort the artistic, heritage, and media expressions of marginalized groups, those same groups are increasingly using these platforms to challenge stereotypes, assert their identities, and reshape global cultural conversations.

PROGRAMME COMMITTEE

Anca Anton, PhD., University of Bucharest, Romania

Tajana Barbić, PhD., The Institute of Economics, Zagreb, Croatia

Melissa Beattie, PhD, Southern New Hampshire University, USA

Jelena Budak, PhD., The Institute of Economics, Zagreb, Croatia

Izabela Derda, PhD., Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherland

Marija Geiger Zeman, PhD., Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Zagreb, Croatia

Petja Grafenauer, PhD., Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Anne-Mette Hermans, PhD., Tilburg University, Netherland

Mirela Holy, PhD., VERN' University, Zagreb, Croatia

Daniela Angelina Jelinčić, PhD., Institute for Development and International Relations, Croatia

Meredith Jones, PhD., Brunel University London/Institute for Communities and Society, London, UK

Petra Krpan, PhD., University of Zagreb Faculty of Textile Technology, Croatia

Svend Erik Larsen, Professor Emeritus, School of Communication and Culture - Comparative Literature, Denmark

Rino Medić, PhD., VERN' University, Zagreb, Croatia

Rebecca Nash, PhD., University of Southampton, United Kingdom

Ivana Rašić, PhD., The Institute of Economics, Zagreb, Croatia

Martina Topić, PhD., Alabama University, USA