Creative economy strategy

ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on the news that culture secretary, Andy Burnham, has launched a new creative economy strategy

The aim of the strategy, entitled 'Creative Britain', is to increase the economic benefits of all the creative industries in the UK.

It will include plans for apprenticeships in arts and media organisations


Party response: Liberal Democrats

Don Foster, culture, media and sports spokesperson, said: "While the government's plans contain some great ideas, we have been left almost entirely in the dark about how it will all be funded. 

"If Labour are serious about supporting this rapidly growing part of the economy, they must now provide clear details of where the funding will come from to convince everyone that this is more than just a well-meaning wish list."


Stakeholder response: Visual Arts and Galleries Association



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A spokesperson told ePolitix.com: "VAGA welcomes the thrust of the creative economy strategy and its emphasis on the vital connections between the cultural and creative industries, creativity and education and skills development and opportunities for young people.

"Increased Arts Council support and engagement with creative enterprise can only be a good thing for the visual arts with their varied and wide impact across the economy and contemporary culture."

Stakeholder response: GuildHE

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David Baker, chair professor, principal of University College Plymouth St Mark and St John, said: "GuildHE is delighted to see clear acknowledgment, across government, of the success story of Britain's creative economy.

"The growth to over seven per cent of GDP is an important reflection of the wealth of innovative talent being developed by our higher education system. The material from DCMS is rich with ideas and challenges and will be of great interest to all GuildHE members."

"There are many exciting examples of innovative areas for study in HE and FE, but we also have to prepare students for those which have not yet been imagined. GuildHE members host places for creative business to grow facilitated by specialist material and guidance.

"This document gives only a flavour of all that is happening and we look to the DCMS to fulfil its commitment in terms of an infrastructure to continue the support for the creative economy programme and creative use of web technology and an interactive website. GuildHE and its members will want to be active in working with DCMS, DIUS and BERR to engage with these agendas."

Alice Hynes, executive secretary, said: "Ensuring that this sector flourishes will be crucial for the UK's future economic prosperity. GuildHE members, with their major focus serving the creative industries, will engage with government in its desire to "ensure that academia is equipping students with the skills they need." The material in Creative Britain reaches so many areas of our work in other subject areas, for example, those working in teacher education are asked to develop young talent.

"It is important to recognise the role higher education has in the supporting creative industry SMEs and in cultural context of the regions, as well as in London. The DCMS material helpfully alerts us to the opportunities in the creative industries for those with skills in other subject areas and will stimulate the arts and sciences to work together in new ways. 

"The work of the Technology Strategy Board in actively supporting the creative industries will also be much valued especially if it can ensure connection to DCMS work. We are also pleased to see the commitment to further practical research into what is working and how connections and networks can be facilitated."