Michael Seeney

Head of Creative Industries Division

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Creative industries: some history

• Department of Trade and Industry responsible for industry sponsorship

• 1980s and 90s focused on “competitiveness”

• Traditional industries failing

• Slow to adjust to growing service economy

Charles Leadbeater

“The real assets of the modern economy come out of our heads, not out of the ground: ideas, knowledge, skills, talent and creativity.”

Some history….

• Why creative industries?– Need to maximise the potential of the

“knowledge economy”– Long history of creativity; but failure to bring

ideas to market and enjoy earnings– Opportunity to move cultural bodies out of

perceived ghetto of failure and subsidy– Ensure creative industries taken seriously in

policy development

Definitions

• Creative industries are:

“Those activities which have their origin in individual creativity, skill, talent, and which

have their potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property”

Definitions

• CIs are (for us):• Advertising• Architecture• Arts and antiques

market• Crafts• Design• Designer fashion

• Film• Interactive leisure

software• Music• Performing arts• Publishing• Software• TV and radio

Facts and figures: national

• the sector employs some 1.95 million people• 13 industries accounted for 7.9% of UK GDP in

2000• between 1997 and 2000 average growth in the

sector was 9% per year• exports contributed £8.7 billion to balance of trade

in 2000, 3.3% of total exports• annual turnover of the sector is £76.6 billion

London’s annual output growth, 1995-2000

London’s productivity 2000

London’s productivity growth rates, 1995-2000

What did we want to do?

• Allow policy makers to make more informed judgements by:

• Generating an “accurate” evidence base

• Identify clusters and areas of growth

• Provide justification for investment

• Track the effectiveness of policy and intervention

How did we do it?

• Emphasis on partnership

• Established Creative Industries Task Force

• 9 Departmental Ministers

• Key industry players (not to represent their industries, but to provide up to date insight)

• Active support from Prime Minister’s office

Industry common issues

• Task Force came up with six areas for joint work:– Access to finance– Intellectual property– Exports– Skills base– Impact of new technologies– creativity

The Mapping Document

Creative industries employment growth rates by UK region, 1995-2000

Access to finance

An enterprise society is one in which….

• many more people want, and have the opportunity to start a business

• everyone with the ambition to grow is helped and supported; and

• small businesses find it easier to have a dialogue with government

A web-based employment tool

The impact of new technologies on the music industry

Issues to be tackled

• Everybody wants a piece of the action

• Can we count?

• We don’t speak the same language

• How do we capture children’s creativity?

• Do creative industries regenerate run down cities?

• How do we ensure sustainability?