Impact of COVID-19 on the Creative Sector in the UK during 2021, as detailed in the Creative Radar report
The Policy Exchange Centre (PEC) is urging the government to direct funding towards creative microclusters across the UK as part of their campaign, Creative Places. This move aims to foster innovation and economic growth in the creative sectors by supporting small, local creative hubs or microclusters.
The call for targeted investment comes as a result of a comprehensive report, Creative Radar 2021: The impact of COVID-19 on the UK's creative industries, authored by Dr Josh Siepel, Dr Jorge Velez Ospina, Dr Roberto Camerani, Dr Monica Masucci, and Dr Patrizia Casadei. Although the PEC's Creative Places campaign was not explicitly mentioned in the report, the funding priorities it outlines align with the campaign's objectives.
The report highlights the significance of government backing for these creative microclusters, explaining that they can enhance local creative ecosystems, foster collaboration, and promote sustainable growth. The UK government already offers grants and loans to creative microbusinesses and small-to-medium enterprises through programs like the DCMS Create Growth Programme. However, the PEC's campaign may be advocating for dedicated funding programs that provide both grants and growth finance to creative microclusters, addressing their specific needs such as infrastructure, networking, business support, and sustainable growth within the UK's creative economy.
The report analysed data from a survey of creative businesses conducted before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing that creative businesses inside a microcluster grew their employment more than companies outside of microclusters or larger clusters. The report is available at this link.
Meanwhile, another report, commissioned by the Creative Industries Council, focuses on the migrant and skills needs of creative businesses in the UK. This report details the results of a survey of employers and is available at a specific URL, but it was not provided in the text.
The international trade of creative goods and services has seen a significant increase over the years. In 2015, worldwide exports exceeded 500 billion USD, with a 150% increase since 2000. This growth was not specific to a certain region or country. However, the report on the international trade of creative goods and services was not part of the Creative Radar series.
The creative economy has shown remarkable resilience over the past year, but some sub-sectors, such as Music, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts, have been adversely affected by the pandemic and lockdown. The image of the Graffiti Art of Digbeth Walk in Birmingham, England, was provided by Creative Nerds.
As more details about the PEC's Creative Places campaign become available, it is expected that they will align with strengthening government financial support mechanisms to nurture vibrant creative microclusters across the UK.
- The Policy Exchange Centre (PEC) advocates for dedicated funding programs that provide grants and growth finance to creative microclusters, as part of their Creative Places campaign.
- The alignment of the PEC's Creative Places campaign with the funding priorities outlined in the report Creative Radar 2021 demonstrates a shared objective to support local creative hubs.
- The significance of government backing for creative microclusters is emphasized in the report, as it can promote collaboration and sustainable growth within the creative sectors.
- The report, authored by several researchers, analyzed data from a survey of creative businesses before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing that companies within creative microclusters experienced more employment growth.
- The creative economy, despite facing challenges during the pandemic, has shown remarkable resilience, with some sub-sectors such as Music, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts being adversely affected.
- The international trade of creative goods and services has witnessed significant growth, with worldwide exports exceeding 500 billion USD in 2015, representing a 150% increase since 2000.
- Another report, focusing on the migrant and skills needs of creative businesses in the UK, detailed the results of a survey of employers, providing insights into talent acquisition strategies in the creative industries.
- The report on the impact of COVID-19 on the UK's creative industries, written by Dr Josh Siepel and others, is accessible at a provided link for readers interested in the topic.
- As the PEC's Creative Places campaign evolves, there is an expectation that it will aim to strengthen government financial support mechanisms for vibrant creative microclusters across the UK, fostering innovation and economic growth in the creative sectors.
