Fishburn Hedges

16.09.2011

When I think of creativity, Ivan Lewis is not the first thought that springs to mind. However, last week saw the Shadow Culture Secretary step onto the stage and announce a Creative Industries Network, something which, while certainly not unique, makes a lot of sense. The Government now needs to show that it is serious about creativity, facing Lewis head on by fully grasping the great economic benefits the creative sector can bring.

As part of one of the many on-going Labour policy reviews, Ivan Lewis announced that he would bring onboard accountant extraordinaire, Patrick McKenna, to aid in the process of establishing a creative industries policy that was not only good for creativity, but for business and the economy.

This thinking formed Lewis’ central announcement – the Creative Industries Network, which looks to join up businesses, trade unions and arts organisations creating a better dialogue and sense of direction between these groups, while also feeding into the Labour policy review to create something which matches “cutting edge creative ideas with an equally creative global business strategy.”

While an attempt to join up first class creativity with good business is not something new, the announcement is very relevant in the current climate; the creative industries account for more than 7 per cent of GDP compared to a European average of two per cent, and exports of services by the creative industries totalled £17.3 billion in 2008, equalling 4.1% of all goods and services exported.

However, many cracks have started to appear. For example, the video games industry has seen employment in the sector shrink by nine per cent between 2008 and 2010 with many developers choosing to move to countries with more favourable business environments such as Canada. It is also the case that small venues who wish to host great new music in the UK are greatly restricted by endless red tape, stunting not only creativity but increased economic growth. This makes no sense.

But do not be mistaken, the Government is acting: establishing the Creative Industries Council; pushing forward with Lord Clement Jones' long standing Live Music bill; implementing much of the Dyson review; and restoring the original purpose of the National Lottery Distribution Fund, to name but a few measures. But, my point is they need to put their foot on the pedal and get these wheels turning at a greater speed, joining up the many cogs of government from DCMS, DoE, No10 and the Treasury to fully embrace and harness the power and economic sense of creativity.

While battles rage within the coalition over the 50p tax rate, looking at measures such as a video games tax relief, a more coherent intellectual property framework and making Britain a place where investment in creativity is more attractive, the seeds of creativity can be more effectively sewn, leading to greater growth in this sector and a bigger boost for the economy.

Ivan Lewis is not suggesting anything radical, and everyone from the Prime Minister to Ed Vaizey have talked about the value of our creative industries, but Labour are approaching this policy from the right direction. The Government should yell from the rooftops about what they are currently doing, but at the same time further consider harnessing growth measures from a sector that offers so much to British culture and UK plc.