This book gathers evidence and case studies from various parts of Europe and across the different sectors that comprise the creative industries, including the visual and performing arts, popular music, the platform economy, and film.

The creative economy has been lauded by national and regional governments for its job-creating potential, even though the jobs created might be insecure or poorly paid. This edited collection emerges from a research network examining this contradiction. It gathers empirical material and case studies across European creative sectors to explore how creative work is perceived by both workers and policymakers, and how these understandings shape practical worker support. The volume brings together renowned European experts from cultural sociology, cultural studies, and creative labour research. Combining cross-national writing teams with focused national case studies, it provides comprehensive insights into diverse creative economies across Europe. Addressing the tension between the creative economy's promise and workers lived experiences, it examines how cultural and economic policies intersect with social inequalities, determining who can access and thrive in creative careers. The research reveals both the challenges facing creative workers and emerging strategies for creating more equitable opportunities. Through analysis of macro-level policy frameworks alongside micro-level worker experiences, the book offers nuanced perspectives and examines the structural factors that shape the conditions of creative work.

With insights from renowned European experts, Creative and Cultural Work in Europe will be of value to those studying and researching cultural policy, labour studies and the creative industries more broadly.