Kevin Brownridge, director at business development company Perfect Moment, was asked to speak at the European Forum on Cultural Industries by the Spanish minister for culture, Angeles Gonzalez-Sinde.
The invitation came after Kevin and his team wrote a report into the impact of Objective One funding on the creative sector in Cornwall.
Ms Gonzalez-Sinde was hosting the conference as part of Spain's presidency of the European Union.
Kevin said: "It's incredible to think that our work, carried out in this far corner of Cornwall, is now impacting on the rest of Europe. It was a fantastic experience speaking at the forum and sharing thoughts with other creative leaders about how important culture and the creative industries are to the economic development of an area."
Kevin's report, Counting on Creativity, was commissioned in 2007 by Cornwall Arts Centre Trust (ACT) and has gained interest throughout Europe.
It cites the impact European funding, worth £43 million between 2000 and 2006, had on developing the creative and cultural sector in Cornwall.
Between 2000 and 2004, employment in this sector within Cornwall grew by 19%, with 560 jobs created. Turnover also grew from £326 million to £421 million.
Kevin added: "The European Forum identified a number of themes which were relevant for Cornwall.
"Firstly, the creative industries are a vitally important part of the knowledge economy across Europe and that Cornish creative businesses need support get their products out into the European marketplace.
"Secondly, these industries are a hotbed of innovation and that we need to continue to find ways to transfer this innovation out into other areas of the economy.
"Finally culture and creativity have a huge impact on all areas of the community and we need to fully recognise that our rich cultural life and our creative businesses are an incredibly important asset."
Perfect Moment is a business development consultancy specialising in the arts, third sector and public sector organisation. For details, please see www.perfect-moment.co.uk
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