In the last five years there has been a virtual explosion of information, debate and argument about the new direction of the economy in the “post industrial world”. With the advent of globalisation, cheap labour markets and the rise and rise of the “creative classes” – a lot of research (and hoopla) has been directed at the emergence of the “creative industries.” And as such, the creative industries currently represent the great hope of the Western economy.
Creative Clusters is an independent policy forum, fostering debate about the creative process and the creative economy and about the inter-relationship of culture and commerce. Although traditionally regarded as strange bedfellows
The Director of Creative Clusters, Simon Evans, disagrees. So much so that he founded Creative Clusters. Evans sees himself as a cultural entrepreneur with a portfolio of projects that have been groundbreaking in creative, technological and business terms. He specialises in helping people who seek commercial and cultural goals – to get the best of both worlds. He is a regular advocate and speaker for a cluster approach to creative development.
Creative Clusters aims to contribute to policy development by examining the initiatives and interventions that can support cultural enterprise at local, regional,
national and international levels.
What are Cultural/Creative Industries?
Cultural Industries (CI’s) are based on individuals with creative arts skills
CI’s are in alliance with managers and technologists
CI’s are making marketable products
CI’s are those whose economic value lies in their cultural/intellectual properties.
Defined by the UK’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) as:
“…Those activities which have their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent and which have a potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property.”
They include: Advertising, Architecture, Crafts and designer furniture, Fashion, Film, Video and audiovisual production, Graphic design, Educational and leisure software, Live and recorded music, Performing arts and Entertainment, Radio, Television, Internet broadcasting, Visual arts, Antiques, Writing and publishing.
Creative Clusters is a resource for:
1. Developers and directors of creative business support agencies, arts and media centres, cultural industries, creative networks and portals.
2. Programme and policy directors in economic, cultural and community regeneration organisations, in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
3. Public policy makers and advisors active in economic and social regeneration, creativity, the arts, media and business clustering.
4. Professionals and consultants in cultural and economic development, town planning, CC management, investment and venture finance.
5. Researchers, academics and students in related disciplines.
6. Entrepreneurs who wish to influence development policy.
7. Strategic development executives in media and IT companies: content, channel, infrastructure and service providers.
8. Suppliers of goods and services to creative business clusters – e.g. legal, financial, IT, property development and media professionals.
The world’s biggest companies in 1950 were all industrial manufacturers and raw materials suppliers: Ford, Standard Oil, GE, Philips and General Motors.
In 2006 an entirely new set of names dominates the list of top companies:
Time Warner, Disney, Bertelsmann, News Corporation, Television broadcasters, publishers and entertainers.
For CC,” …it is clear that human creativity is all of a piece, and that the old view that science, industry and culture are essentially distinct is now obsolete, and is a serious barrier to progress in business, social regeneration and in the arts. In the era of creativity, art is ordinary, and there is essentially no difference between the creativity of the entrepreneur, the scientist and the artist…”
For the purposes of examining the potential of this new way of thinking, Creative Clusters believes that ”…the role of the artist is changing. The artist is no longer a peculiar outsider, with a magical gift that the state or the rich must protect. Artistic creativity is an ordinary human activity… It can be taught and learnt.”
Creative Clusters examines the cultural industries and their role in economic development and regeneration. As an organisation it aims to provide a network and events for people engaged in the development of the creative industries to:
1. Showcase their work
2. Learn from each other
3. Identify and articulate policy issues
4. Connect to development resources
Creative Clusters believes that, “ …The cultural industries are unique among businesses in that they are capable of delivering value in economic, artistic and social terms. They generate high quality jobs, they project the identity of communities, cities and regions, they promote linguistic and cultural diversity, they open minds and they can be highly profitable.”
Creative Clusters believes that strategies for growth in this area should address the “…whole creative ecology, challenging traditional boundaries between art, business, education and science, between for- and not-for-profit enterprises, between economic, social and cultural policy.”
As a way of creating opportunities for creative partnerships, information sharing on current strategies, policy development and innovation: The Creative Clusters Conference represents an annual meeting ground where professionals from all sectors can come together and share their research, experiences and innovations.
Creative Clusters Fourth International Conference
The Creative Economy
The Sage, Newcastle Gateshead, UK
Monday 6th – Wednesday 8th November 2006.
The principal sponsor is Tyne Wear Partnership.
There are countless creative development projects in progress, many currents of academic discourse as well as a range of consultants and organisations with creative services and expertise. Increasingly, the concept of “creativity” is coming to replace “knowledge” as the new buzzword and as the defining characteristic of the modern economy.
So with all the fanfare surrounding the new found status of creativity and the creative class: What does it (creativity) really mean for culture-led development?
According to Creative Clusters, “Creativity” is increasingly being seen as the strategy that all businesses must adopt to take on the challenges of globalisation.
The 2006 Creative Clusters Conference will focus on exploring this and related issues by asking the question-
What does the economy really look like when creativity is mainstreamed?
And if creativity is a driving force in economic development, are the values hitherto championed by culture, or by commerce, driving change? Or is there another future, a third way, in which people, places and profit can reach a new accommodation?
Registrations: for Creative Clusters Conference 2006 will be open from 10th July 2006, when the first Programme announcement will also be made.
Fees: will range from £145 for a single day to £485.00 for the full conference.
Group booking: discounts start at 10% for the third person booking, and go up by another 10% for every additional delegate, up to a maximum of 50% discount.
Bursaries: will be available to people who have no other source of funds available to pay for the conference. Applications will be open from 10th July.
For more information on fees, bursaries, group discounts and assisted travel grants, to register for information and updates, to book, or simply to learn more about the work of Creative Clusters, go to:
