Creative Mediterranean: Design as a Tool for Resilience in the MENA Region
Since 2015, the Creative Mediterranean initiative, backed by the EU and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, has fostered the growth of the creative economy in 13 clusters across seven MENA nations. Under the leadership of Giulio Vinaccia, a Compasso d'Oro laureate, projects such as the Nablus Furniture Cluster in Palestine and the fashion cluster in Amman are being developed. The program seeks to reshape local artisanal perceptions into marketable goods, contributing €960 million annually (0.2% of GDP) and €400 million in exports (0.3% of total). It encompasses 55 institutions, 19,300 small businesses, and employs 280,000 individuals. Vinaccia emphasizes the role of design in problem-solving while addressing infrastructure and macro-political challenges, distinguishing Western design from emerging hybrid traditions.
Key facts
- Creative Mediterranean is implemented by UNIDO and funded by EU and Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
- Project started in 2015, covers 13 clusters in 7 MENA countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon.
- Giulio Vinaccia is the art director, won Compasso d'Oro for Social Design with UNIDO for Tsara project.
- Annual economic turnover from clusters: €960 million (0.2% of GDP), exports €400 million (0.3% of total).
- 55 institutions involved, 19,300 small enterprises, 280,000 employees (56% informal sector).
- Clusters include Nablus Furniture (Palestine), copper in Constantine (Algeria), fashion in Amman (Jordan), ceramics in Nabeul (Tunisia).
- Vinaccia describes design as a resilience school and problem-solving attitude.
- NANDEVA project used special shirts to allow artisans to cross borders, creating a de facto common market.
Entities
Artists
- Giulio Vinaccia
Institutions
- UNIDO
- European Union
- Italian Agency for Development Cooperation
- Nablus Furniture Cluster
- Constantine Copper District
- Jordan Fashion Cluster
- Nabeul Tableware Cluster
- Artribune
- Mercosul
Locations
- Mediterranean
- Morocco
- Algeria
- Tunisia
- Egypt
- Jordan
- Palestine
- Lebanon
- Nablus
- Constantine
- Amman
- Nabeul
- Brazil
- Paraguay
- Argentina
- Venezuela
- Italy