27 April 2023 – Today, the Creative PEC launches a landmark report – The State of Creativity – reflecting on 25 years of creative industry policy, since the era of cool Britannia and the establishment of the DCMS. The report will be launched at the BFI, London Southbank, where 400+ delegates will explore how the UK can remain a creative leader. Speakers include: Leonie Bell, V&A Dundee; Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire; Rehana Mughal, British Council; and Lord Neil Mendoza, Commissioner for Cultural Recovery and Renewal.
The report, which includes contributions from 24 creative industry thinkers from seven UK universities and across the creative sector calls on policymakers to prioritise creative education in schools, end unequal access to the arts and focus on the regenerative power of the creative industries, if the UK is to fully realise the potential of its world-leading creative industries.
The conference also marks an £11 million investment from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) for a further five years of the Creative PEC as it moves to a new North/South twin-hub model in June this year led by Newcastle University with the Royal Society of the Arts. The role of the Creative PEC is to provide robust impartial evidence to inform policy decisions to support the growth of the UK’s creative industries.
Hasan Bakhshi, Director, Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) says: “The creative industries are no longer an unsung success story in the UK’s industrial strategy, but their place in mainstream policies in areas like education, skills, immigration and the climate emergency is not yet secured. The challenge for the Creative PEC during the next five years is to ensure that policies across government – not just in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport – are grounded in an assessment of Creative Britain’s needs, informed by robust evidence.”
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin says: “I know first-hand how transformative the creative industries can be, and that’s why it’s at the heart of my vision for West Yorkshire. Boosting knowledge and skills through training is key in giving talented people a chance to unleash their potential. And how we’ll drive economic growth, regeneration, investment and jobs in an ever-changing world.”
In the new report, researchers from seven UK universities highlight the priority areas for creative industries policy and research, supported by on-the-ground accounts by leading creative industry practitioners, including Bradford Literature Festival’s Syima Aslam, entrepreneur Tom Adeyoola, and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Sarah Ellis.
Professor Christopher Smith, Executive Chair, Arts and Humanities Research Council says: “The creative industries play an essential role in addressing national and global challenges, driving innovation and prosperity across society and the economy. The Creative PEC have been vital to setting the argument for investment on a new footing. This report provides another important contribution to the evidence base, helping us to ensure we build on our successes to-date and allow the creative industries to continue to flourish.”
The State of Creativity: Policy – Research – Industry is available to download on the Creative PEC’s website.
/ENDS
Notes to editors:
The State of Creativity conference is currently full, however press passes are available. For more information contact alice.kent@nesta.org.uk The conference will also be live streamed from 9.30am on Thursday 27 April at: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCreativePEC
The report’s contributors are available for interview.
Press contacts
– Alice Kent alice.kent@nesta.org.uk 07779029055 (Monday-Wednesday)
– Anna Zabow 07713 619077 / anna.zabow@nesta.org.uk (Thursday & Friday)
About the Creative PEC
The Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) works to support the growth of the UK’s Creative Industries through the production of independent and authoritative evidence and policy advice. Led by Nesta and funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council as part of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy, the Centre currently comprises of a consortium of universities and one research consultancy from across the UK (Birmingham; Cardiff; Edinburgh; Glasgow; LSE; Manchester; Newcastle; Sussex; Ulster and Work Advance). The Creative PEC works with a diverse range of industry partners including Creative UK. From June 2023, the Creative PEC will move from Nesta to Newcastle University with the RSA. To find out more, visit www.pec.ac.uk and @CreativePEC
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