With the aim of strengthening the sector’s competitiveness, the first “Medellín Capital Creativa” event was held, bringing together nearly 500 entrepreneurs, creators, investors, and strategic partners from the audiovisual, music, and live entertainment industries. The event, organized by the Medellín Mayor’s Office and the Medellín Chamber of Commerce for Antioquia, facilitated the exchange of knowledge, the formation of strategic alliances, and the exploration of new market opportunities.
“Here at the Medellín Mayor’s Office, we have a strategic project focused on generating value in the creative industries, and in that regard, we have been working with the Medellín Chamber of Commerce. Five percent of the city’s business base is in the creative industries, and we want it to continue growing; we have all the potential for it to remain a driver of development,” said María Fernanda Galeano Rojo, Medellín’s Secretary of Economic Development.
The city is advancing the sector’s growth through the Medellín Creativa program, which has supported 300 entrepreneurs and empowered 100 companies by 2026. Similarly, the administration has a robust strategy comprising approximately 40 training, capacity-building, and development programs for the various sectors of the creative industries, led by Sapiencia and the departments of Civic Culture, Youth, and Economic Development.
Along these same lines, the Mayor’s Office is committed to developing advanced skills through initiatives such as EstudIA, which aims to train talent in artificial intelligence, sound design, English, and business management. Furthermore, to consolidate Medellín’s position as an audiovisual and entertainment hub, the city stands out as the only one in the country to offer a cash rebate of up to 20% for productions filmed within its territory through the Film Commission.
This effort is complemented by the Creative Industries Cluster Strategy, promoted in partnership with the Medellín Chamber of Commerce for Antioquia with the goal of enhancing the professionalization, strategic coordination, and international visibility of the local business community. In addition to these initiatives, the city is boosting the knowledge economy through creative districts in areas such as Prado, Perpetuo Socorro, and San Ignacio, as well as large-scale projects like the expansion of the Atanasio Girardot Stadium to host international events.
This city-wide approach was evident throughout the event, where models of transformation and competitiveness—such as that of the Basque Country—were discussed, strategic projects were reviewed, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the sector’s future was debated.
In addition, a creative workshop was held in which business leaders worked collaboratively to propose solutions to the major challenges projected for the year 2035.
“We have three priority industries: the entire audiovisual sector, which includes animation and video games, among others; music and its entire value chain, which includes artists, labels, and record companies; and live culture, because we believe that all forms of artistic expression are essential,” said Diego Cifuentes Cruz, manager of the Creative Industries Cluster initiative.
As part of the event, ACI Medellín, the Medellín Chamber of Commerce for Antioquia, the Medellín Mayor’s Office, and Zetta Ventures led a business matchmaking session that connected 10 selected creative projects with key investors, accompanied by training sessions on pitching and financing. This initiative reaffirms the strategy aimed at mobilizing capital toward the creative sector, enhancing its scalability within the knowledge economy.
The creative industries in Medellín demonstrate high potential and a strong international presence. The capital of Antioquia is home to 3,829 formal companies in this sector, which generate $1.67 trillion in annual revenue and have recorded sustained growth of 7% over the past decade.
