Seven experts have been appointed to lead the drive to make Britain the world's creative hub, Creative Industries Minister James Purnell announced today.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has also enlisted Creative & Cultural Skills to provide staff support and expertise to the work of the education and skills sub-group chaired by Sir Chris Frayling, chairman of the Arts Council England.
The Chief Executive of the Sector Skills Council, Tom Bewick, is a member of both the Ministerial high-level panel and Sir Frayling's sub group:
Commenting on the initiative, Tom Bewick said: "The creative economy programme is recognition by government of the contribution these important industries from advertising to the visual arts play in enriching our economic and cultural life. But the challenge ahead with a tight government spending review in prospect is to ensure that all public and industry bodies are providing a coherent framework of support to our creative businesses and cultural institutions.
"The ambition of making Britain the world's creative hub is a big prize to aim for. But this will only happen if we find better ways of nurturing talent, creating opportunity and crucially enhancing the skills and productive base of the creative economy. Creative & Cultural Skills is looking forward to playing an active part in the programme which will report to Ministers in June."
Launched in November last year the programme aims to create the best framework to support the innovation, growth and productivity of the Creative Industries. It will bring together publicly funded bodies and enable them to develop pioneering new projects in partnership.
The programme focuses on seven key areas. Each area will be driven by an expert in that field. The chairpersons are:
- Lord Eatwell, Acting Chairman of the British Library, will chair the Competition and Intellectual Property group;
- Sir Christopher Frayling, Chairman of the Arts Council, will chair the Education and Skills group;
- John Woodward, Chief Executive of the UK Film Council, will chair the Technology group;
- Chris Powell, Chair of NESTA, will lead the Business Support group;
- Keith Khan, Chief Executive of Rich Mix, will chair the Diversity group;
- John Sorrell CBE, Chairman of the London Design Festival, will chair the Infrastructure group;
- The Evidence and Analysis group is being led internally by DCMS's Chief Economist Paula Crofts.
The Programme is also about bringing together the creative industries - ranging from pop music to antiques - to help them build on their already considerable success. They account for more than eight per cent GDP, more than four per cent of our export income and provide jobs for two million people.
The Government will be consulting key industry representatives who will be invited to advise on future policy for the creative industries. A key part of this will be a major summit for the music industry in the spring.
In addition, there will be a series of industry summits across the breadth of the creative industries, beginning in March when the DCMS will host an industry breakfast to discuss access to finance.
Creative Industries Minister, James Purnell, said: "This is the start of a wide sweeping review of our creative industries - a review which I hope will result in the UK becoming the world's creative hub.
"Over the next few months our experts will be drawing views from across our public bodies before reporting back to me. And I will be hosting a series of summits and breakfast meetings with key industry players.
"We need everyone's input for this Programme to be a success. I would like to thank, in advance, our experts and everybody across the creative industries who will be taking part."
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