As yet there is no specific definition of the cultural industries in Slovenia, nor any specific overall legal framework within which the Slovene cultural industries can be promoted and developed. There is no programmed and systematic support for the cultural industries in Slovenia, though some attempt to design strategies has been made in the context of the National Programmes of Culture conceived by the Ministry of Culture. An interesting attempt at developing strategies for the promotion of the cultural industries was also outlined at local level as a part of the winning programme proposed by the Maribor Urban Municipality (prepared by Kibla Multimedia Centre) for the European Capital of Culture that was nominated by the Slovene Government to the relevant EU institutions in 2007. Submitted under the motto ‘Pure Energy’, the joint bid of Maribor, Velenje, Slovenj Gradec, Ptuj, Murska Sobota and Novo mesto was based on the notion that culture is a generator of development and that cultural services, creative industries and cultural tourism should present an important vehicle for European future development. In this way the intertwining of arts and culture with economy, science, education, tourism and economy is envisaged. Attempts have also been made to develop a dynamic business environment; to develop and expand the talent and skills base; to increase innovation; and to enhance the international reputation of Slovene arts and culture in the area of creative industries.

In Slovenia sectors such as publishing or film and music distribution and production are generally privatised, generating funds from a variety of sources including public funding, sponsorship and also direct investment and earned income. The products of domestic cultural industries are distributed and consumed, not only in the domestic market but also internationally. For instance, films find their way to international audiences (mainly through festivals) and there are a few writers whose works are translated and distributed abroad. EU support for these endeavours is valuable.

It is not yet known what revenues Slovene cultural industries generate or how many people are currently employed in the sector, although it should be noted that producing exact figures for the sector is difficult even in the UK, as the creative sector doesn’t follow traditional industry models. It has a high number of freelancers and micro businesses who move fluidly between commercial and non-commercial contexts. Some researches relating to culture, especially in connection with the creative industries, tourism and sponsorship, have been carried out by the Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development.

Brief information and statistics prepared by the Ministry of Culture covering audio-visual culture (film, broadcasting) and the publishing of music and books or periodicals is available in the Slovenia section of the Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe, 8th edition, 2007 (Council of Europe/European Institute for Comparative Cultural Research (ERICarts)). The presentation of the scope of the cultural industries in Slovenia follows the categorisation of business activities within the Business Register of Slovenia and features estimated data on the size of the cultural industries in Slovenia for 2005, according to which the total number of employees in the sector is in the region of 8,300 (in 1,810 organisations).