Strengthening support for creative sector

Experts from across Scotland’s creative industries will meet for the first time next week to discuss how to make the sector stronger and enhance support, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said today.

As one of Scotland’s key growth sectors, there is clear evidence of the continuing significance of Scotland’s creative industries in respect of scale, employment and growth within Scotland’s overall economy. In 2015, the creative industries employed 73,600 people and new figures this year show the creative industries involved more than 15,000 registered enterprises.

The establishment of a Creative Industries Advisory Group was a key Programme for Government commitment. Co-Chaired by Ms Hyslop and Film Producer Bob Last, the group will meet twice a year and will also include observers from Creative Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise whose collaboration with the group will be crucial to its success. Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy Paul Wheelhouse will also be part of the group.

The group includes industry voices from the 16 sub sectors of the creative industries,  in areas such as architecture, visual art, crafts, music, fashion and textiles, performing arts and film production.

Announcing the Creative Industry Advisory Group members, Ms Hyslop said:

“Scotland has a creative sector that is dynamic, diverse and key to our economic growth – one that we are rightfully proud of. But in order to ensure growth, develop its ingenuity and nurture our talent we want to hear directly from industry experts what targeted support is needed to achieve a more strategic approach to take our creative industries to the next level.

“This advisory group will support more collaborative working by enabling the diverse range of businesses and entrepreneurs across the creative industries to engage with each other and with Government to discuss and advise on high-level issues of relevance to the whole sector.

“I look forward to working with Bob and the group and hearing directly about the successes, issues and priorities the sector is experiencing so we can collectively take a strategic view – a truly industry led approach – on how to further support the creative industries sector as a whole.”

Co-Chair of the Creative Industry Advisory Group Bob Last said:

“I am very pleased that the Scottish Government is continuing its engagement with the creative sector and look forward to exploring common ground across the rich diversity of the group. 

“Creative enterprise sits uniquely across the cultural and commercial spheres so I particularly welcome the Culture Secretary's decision to invite the Minister for Business, Innovation and Enterprise, Paul Wheelhouse, to join the group. 

“This group provides a valuable opportunity to have a focussed dialogue directly with government.”

Group Members:

Ministers

Fiona Hyslop - Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs (Co-chair)

Paul Wheelhouse - Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy

Creative industries

Bob Last - Film Producer (Co-chair)

Brian Coane - The Leith Agency / Institute of Advertising Practitioners Scotland

Willie Watt - Nicholl Russell Studios / Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland

Toby Webster - The Modern Institute

Carol Sinclair - Carol Sinclair Ceramics

Lorna Macaulay - The Harris Tweed Authority

Chris Hunt - Scotland Re:designed

Janice Kirkpatrick - Graven

Lucy Mason - National Theatre of Scotland

Dougal Perman - Scottish Music Industry Association

David Eustace - Photographer and Chancellor of Napier University

Colin Anderson - Denki

Cameron Fraser - Ko Lik Animated Films

Ciara Phillips - Artist

Pamela Tulloch - Scottish Library and Information Council

Sarah Cameron - SENSCOT

Polly Purvis - ScotlandIS

Jane Muirhead - Raise the Roof Productions

Jenny Todd - Canongate Books

Alex Smith - XpoNorth

Simon Cotton - Johnstons of Elgin

Joanne Orr - Museums Galleries Scotland

Claire Forsyth - Glasgow Print Studio

Rachael Brown - Cultural Enterprise Office

Philip Hannay - Cloch Solicitors

John Kampfner - Creative Industries Federation

Observers:

Creative Scotland

Scottish Enterprise

Skills Development Scotland

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Background

The first meeting will take place on Wednesday 8 and will explore the links between creativity, enterprise and entrepreneurship.

The GVA of the creative industries continues to grow and was £3.7 billion in 2014. This is a significant increase since 2010 when GVA stood at £2.7 billion. Further information can be found in the Scottish Government’s Growth Sector Statistics Database: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Business/Publications/GrowthSectors/Database.

A Creative Industries Strategy for 2016-17 was published by Creative Scotland on 17 May 2016: http://www.creativescotland.com/resources/our-publications/plans-and-strategy-documents/creative-industries-strategy-2016-17.