DEPARTMENT FOR
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT News Release (112/08) issued by COI News
Distribution Service. 23 October 2008
World leaders from
the creative and financial industries will convene in the UK next
year to help ensure that our creative industries continue to grow
and thrive.
The inaugural Creativity & Business International Network
(c&binet) will take place at The Grove in Hertfordshire from
26 - 28 October 2009 and will bring together the people with the
power to shape the future of the global creative economy. It will
give people from different creative fields, and from commercial
and business communities, the opportunity to do business, share
ideas and work together to secure enduring success for creative
industries around the world.
C&binet has been developed following a commitment in the
Government's 'Creative Britain: New Talents for the New
Economy' to create an international creative business
conference to help maximise the contribution of the creative
industries to the wider world economy.
An influential international panel will act as ambassadors to
ensure c&binet addresses the issues that face creative
businesses, their customers and investors and creates an
environment for making successful, profitable partnerships. A
group of these ambassadors will meet in Liverpool next month to
agree on the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the
global creative industries and to set the agenda for the first forum.
Peter Molyneux OBE (MD, Lionhead Studios), Lucian Grainge
(Chairman, Universal Music), Tony Orsten (CEO, twofour54), and
Charles Chao (President, Sina.com) are already confirmed as ambassadors.
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said:
"Britain has always been the natural home of the creative
industries and we aim to cement that by establishing this
prestigious international conference, which in time we hope will
be the Davos for creative businesses. In the UK, creative
industries make a major contribution to the economy, employing
over two million people and contributing £60 billion a year. And
while the last decade has seen the UK's creative industries
grow at twice the rate of the wider economy, there are real
pressures both from international competitors and wider economic conditions.
"With businesses around the world feeling the effect of the
economic slowdown, the Government needs to focus its efforts to
support key growth sectors. This makes our commitment to develop
an international conference, bringing together world leaders from
both the creative and financial sectors, even more important.
C&binet will bring together those people with the power to
shape the future of the global creative economy.
"To succeed, and cement the UK's position as the
world's creative hub, it's vital that the agenda is set
by those global decision makers who can identify the key
challenges and opportunities facing all creative businesses.
That's why I am pleased that such influential ambassadors
have committed to work with us to develop c&binet into one of
the most relevant and significant events on the business calendar."
Charles Chao of Sina.com said:
"Creativity drives the global economy. Without people
thinking of new and innovative ways of doing business, new models
for bringing creativity to life and making it a commercial
reality, we wouldn't have witnessed the growth and prosperity
recently experienced in countries such as China. The internet has
been one of the most important facilitators of this. C&binet
will help ensure that the exciting future the world's
creative industries are building, is realized."
Peter Molyneux of Lionhead Studios said:
"The creative industries share a passion for innovation - a
willingness to challenge convention and find new ways of doing
things. This shared passion unites us and means that together we
can achieve great things. But it also means that we must address
the challenges we face collectively.
"At first it might be difficult to see how our expertise in
games development has any relevance to architects or fashion
designers, but when you dig a little deeper it's clear that
we face similar issues, such as intellectual property rights and
skills shortages. C&binet will help us address these issues
together, guaranteeing the growth and development of this
increasingly important economic sector."
C&binet is being managed as a not-for-profit initiative. DCMS
is the initiator and founding funder.
Meanwhile, progress has been made across all the other
commitments set out in Creative Britain. From unlocking and
developing talent to putting creative businesses at the heart of
the economy, the strategy is designed to develop the UK's
position as the world's creative hub.
New creative apprenticeship schemes specialising in live events
and promotions, the music business, technical theatre skills,
costume and wardrobe, running cultural venues and community arts
have been established by Creative and Cultural Skills, the sector
skills council. Already, 160 employers have signed up to these
schemes, which are a significant step towards the ambition of
creating 5000 new creative apprenticeships each year by 2013.
Encouraging young people to fulfil their creative ambitions has
been at the heart of much of the work undertaken. From the launch
of the 'Find Your Talent' scheme through to other
projects, such as a pilot scheme by the University of Arts which
is bringing together a range of schools into an 'Academic
Hub' providing intensive support for young people to gain
creative skills.
A range of organisations and other government departments are
also leading on many aspects of the work to enhance the growth of
Britain's creative economy. UK Trade and Investment are
leading work to enhance the international position of the
UK's creative industries, and the UK Intellectual Property
Office are promoting better understanding of intellectual property
through a major exhibition at the Science Museum next year.
Eight months after the launch of 'Creative Britain' the
success of the UK's creative sector continues to thrive as
well as helping to inspire future generations of creative talent.
Notes to editors
1. High quality images of the c&binet branding are available
from DCMS press office.
2. Future news on c&binet will be available at http://www.cabinetforum.org
3. "Creative Britain: New Talents For The New Economy"
is available at http://www.culture.gov.uk.
4. A full update on the 26 commitments in "Creative
Britain" follows:
1. We will establish the 'Find Your Talent' programme-
piloting five hours of culture a week for children and young
people. Secretaries of State in DCMS and DCSF have now launched
the Find Your Talent Programme. 10 Pathfinders have been selected,
to test in different ways how best to deliver a five hour offer of
culture to children and young people in their areas. This will
include opportunities to take part in a wide range of high quality
cultural experiences across all art forms as both spectators and
participants. The intention is that the pathfinders will collect
the evidence and develop the argument for national roll out so
that this offer becomes universal. Delivery Plans in each of the
pathfinders have now been signed off and work in the pathfinders
is underway.
2. We will create a talent pathways scheme to support and inspire
young people from all backgrounds to pursue careers in the
creative sectors. DCMS is looking at several examples of pathways
including Channel 4's work related learning strategy, with a
view to identifying any gaps.
3. The DCMS will work with its NDPBs, and through them its
sectors, to agree actions to promote a more diverse workforce. The
department is currently developing a diversity strategy to work
across all of its sectors.
4. We will conduct research to ensure that academia is equipping
students with the skills they need to make the most effective
contribution they can to the creative economy. DCMS has awarded a
contract to the Arts Design Media Higher Education Academy in
Brighton to carry out this research. They will report in summer 2009.
5. We will encourage employers and skills providers to set up
ground-breaking new innovative places of learning.
We are in discussions with a number of organisations into setting
up a number of academies and places of learning. Since the launch
of Creative Britain, the National Skills Academy for Creative and
Cultural skills has gained approval for a £15 million project that
will help to significantly reduce skills gaps and shortages in
backstage and off-stage skills UK-wide.
6. We will explore the impact of a brand new 'Academic
Hub' supporting collaboration between schools, further and
higher education to provide end-to-end development of creative
skills for people aged 14 through to 25.
The University of the Arts London has launched a pilot scheme
bringing together four secondary schools and two further education
colleges in Newham into an academic hub. This will provide
intensive support for progression in creative skills for young
people aged 14-25.
7. Apprenticeships will be established across the creative
industries for up to 5,000 people a year by 2013.
This year Creative and Cultural Skills, the skills sector
council, have established a framework called Creative
Apprenticeships with six specialist pathways in:
1. Live Events & Promotion
2. Music Business (Recording Industry)
3. Technical Theatre (Rigging, Lighting & Sound)
4. Costume & Wardrobe
5. Cultural Venue Operations
6. Community Arts
They aim to create 1000 places in the next few years and have
enlisted 160 employers to date including Tate Liverpool, the Royal
Opera House, Royal Shakespeare Company, and Theatre Royal
Newcastle among others.
8. The Technology Strategy Board will provide £10 million to
inspire new collaborative research and development ideas for the
creative industries. Grants of over £7million have been offered to
13 larger collaborative projects involving a range of companies
from across the creative industries sector. The Technology
Strategy Board is also funding 11 smaller SME led projects and has
offered grants of up to £15,000 to 75 SME and micro companies to
help them develop innovative ideas for new products and services.
9. NESTA will launch a £3 million Creative Innovators Growth
Programme. Since March 2008 four Innovators Growth sector pilots
have been launched. 1. Digital Innovation in Film is a £500,000
project in partnership with the UK Film Council. It teams film
distribution businesses up with technical partners to explore new
revenue streams via digital distribution of film.
2. Raise the Game is a set of pilot initiatives designed for
games SMEs who have the capacity for high growth. The pilot is
being run in partnership with TIGA, the UK trade association for
games developers. The value of Raise the Game is approximately £450,000.
3. NESTA has partnered with PACT to develop contract templates
for TV producers and digital media producers to work
collaboratively on convergent content. The budget for this project
is £20,000.
4. In December, NESTA launches Creative Business Catalyst, in
partnership with HEFCE and five UK business schools. This
programme teams high-growth creative businesses with MBA students
to deliver a growth plan for the businesses. The budget for this
project is currently £350,000. All projects are listed at: http://www.nesta.org.uk/creative-economy
10. The Technology Strategy Board will launch a Knowledge
Transfer Network for the Creative industries.
The Technology Strategy Board announced a new consortium in May
to manage the knowledge transfer network, comprising of the
University of the Arts London, Imperial College London, The Royal
Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and TIGA. The Knowledge
Transfer Network will begin work this autumn.
The Technology Strategy Board also announced a new £5m
collaborative R&D programme to open in March 09 - themed
"Accessing and Commercialising Content in a Digitally
Networked Age" specifically designed to help digital content
creators and rightsholders realise and maximise the commercial
return on their intellectual property.
11. The Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills will
commission research to better quantify the economic benefits of
the creative industries, with special attention to the value added
by innovation in those industries.
A research project to look at how value is generated in creative
industries and how they might spread value to other parts of the
economy is now underway. DIUS expect to publish a report on the
research findings in spring 2009.
12. Arts Council England will help deliver the objectives of the
Creative Economy Programme.
Arts Council England have been drafting a delivery plan
identifying key areas of work that will help deliver the
objectives of the Creative Economy Programme.
These key areas of work include:
-Support for the 'Find Your Talent' pathfinders, and
the commitment of £6 million over the next three years towards a
universal cultural offer from 2011;
-Turning talent into jobs through the work in the learning and
skills continuum and partnership working with our Regularly Funded Organisations;
-Supporting creative clusters through their commitment to the
regional creative economy strategic frameworks pilots and the
development of Mixed Media Centres.
13. The Regional Development Agencies will establish a network of
regional beacons for the creative industries in the South West,
South East, North West, North East and West Midlands.
The first meeting between the Regional Development Agencies was
held in May in Birmingham where two additional regions joined the
network, Yorkshire and the East of England. Further meetings are
scheduled. Seven out of the nine government regions are involved.
An interim report will be issued by Christmas with results of
specific projects published in the spring.
14. We will encourage bids for Enterprise Capital Funds from the
creative industries and expect to see increased investment flows
as a result. DCMS has received interest from a number of bodies
wanting to pursue bids for funding and we are working with them
through the process.
15. We will consult on legislation that would require internet
service providers and rights holders to co-operate in taking
action on illegal file sharing - with a view to implementing
legislation by April 2009. In July, the Department for Business
launched a consultation paper on tackling the unlawful downloading
of copyrighted material. The paper focuses on the
Government's preferred, industry-led approach based on giving
a statutory footing to a memorandum of understanding signed by the
six major Internet Service Providers, four major record labels and
six major film studios.The agreement involves the signatories
working together to create a self-regulated environment where
users are educated about illegal file sharing, legal downloads are
made more easily available, alleged infringers are notified and
repeat offences are investigated. The consultation closes at the
end of October.
16. UK-IPO will put into action a plan on IP enforcement. UK-IPO
has been taking forward action in a number of areas. Recent
progress includes:
- Consulting on possible changes to the existing penalties for
online infringement of copyright (which closes on 31 October)
- Working in partnership with the Crown Prosecution Service to
provide a portfolio of IP training material for the new Global
Prosecutors' E-Crime Network (GPEN).
We are exploring options for the new National Centre of
Excellence for tackling IP crime and good progress is being made.
Plans for a pilot with London Trading Standards aimed at removing
fake goods from London's streets are also progressing well.
17. We will promote better understanding of the value and
importance of intellectual property.
DCMS has given its support to the Young Enterprise Quick Start
Music programme which gives children the chance to create and run
their own mini-music enterprise in school. The Department is also
looking at other ways it can encourage the understanding of
intellectual property within schools.
UKIPO has agreed to sponsor a major exhibition at the Science
Museum next year aimed at promoting a better understanding of IP
and its role in generating value from creativity. The exhibition
will also aim to encourage a positive respect for IP.
18. The Regional Development Agencies will pilot regional
creative economy strategic frameworks in two regions, the North
West and South West. Both RDAs are making progress on their pilot
schemes which started in May this year, and we are also aware that
a number of other regions are interested in getting involved in
their own pilots.
19. The Government will review what the barriers to investment in
next generation broadband may be. The review conducted by Lehman
Brothers was published on 12 September this year.
20. Through the Local Government Association, and with the RDAs,
we will develop a 'menu for local infrastructure.' DCMS
is funding this toolkit which will help local authorities to
support creative industries in their area. The Menu will be
published by the LGA next spring.
21. The UK Film Council, in association with Arts Council England
and the Arts and Humanities Research Council, will help develop
'mixed media centres.'
We outlined six venues that would be used as indicative case
studies. They are Broadway, Nottingham; Cornerhouse, Manchester;
Foundation for Art and Creative Technology, Liverpool; Sheffield
Media and Exhibition Centre, Sheffield; Tyneside Cinema,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and Watershed, Bristol. Arts Council England
and the UK Film Council are preparing plans for a digital network
of mixed media centres. This will build on and enhance the work
that the venues are already carrying out and will maximise the
opportunities afforded by new digital technologies.
22. In line with the recommendations of the Live Music Forum, we
will encourage the protection of live music venues, building on
the example set by the work of the Mayor of London.
DCMS is considering how we continue to build on the work already
done by the Mayor's office to protect live music venues.
23. UK Trade and Investment will lead a five-year strategy to
enhance the international competitive position of the UK's
creative industries. A new film showcasing 50 years of Creative
Britain was shown at an event to celebrate Creative Day during the
Olympics in Beijing. A version of the film will be made available
towards the end of the year for embassies, events and industry people.
Lord Digby Jones hosted a Creative Industries and Motorsport
reception in July, and UKTI continues its work to promote the
international competitive position of the UK's creative industries.
24. We will initiate the launch of the World Creative Business
Conference. DCMS has confirmed today the launch of the Creativity
and Business International Network (c&binet) with the first
event to be held next year on 26-28 October 2009 with a smaller
event to be held in Liverpool this November.
25. We will work with the Mayor of London and other partners to
champion London's many creative festivals - and forge better,
mutually beneficial links with important festivals around the country.
DCMS has had several discussions with the Mayor's office and
continues to work with them to champion London's creative
festivals. We are working with the British Fashion Council to
explore a range of options to find a suitable permanent location
for London Fashion Week. The BFI are working hard to deliver a
robust business case on their proposals to build a new film centre
on London's Southbank and the plans to create an up-to-date
archive facility in Warwickshire. A decision by Ministers on both
of these projects is expected in the near future.
26. We will put in place the right structures to ensure that the
Creative Economy Programme keeps pace with developments on the
ground. DCMS has set up Governance structures to ensure the CEP is
kept up-to-date with any changes, and the department is also
setting up a new Creative Economy Programme Website. DCMS is also
developing a research framework to support the gathering of
evidence in the creative industries.
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