The London Creative Industries: The World's Most Important Creative Centre?
Speaker
Abstract
| The lecture is drawn from my publications, which set out to introduce the creative industries—an increasingly recognised global phenomenon—,by explaining the origins of the concept in the United Kingdom. This contorted definitional history is not particularly unusual as successive governments redraw the policy boundaries and align resources. What does become important in this process is the increasing reliance on evidence to support and evaluate the creative industries policy. So where does this evidence come from, how is it collected, and perhaps more importantly, how reliable is it? |
| To collect data, a definitional framework or classificatory system is required, which is normally the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) or Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) and international variations of these. This lecture investigates the history and rationale for the definition and exposes weaknesses, such as a lack of consistency, the regional and local interests or a detailed explanation of what each sub-sector comprises. It is noted that the practioners are rarely consulted about their practice and how they would define it. |
| Consequently it is suggested that the evidential base derived from the definitional framework established by the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) for the British Government under Blair and New Labour needs an overhaul and goes on to provide a revised framework. By applying the revised framework it is possible to collect and analyse core and related activities in the defined sub-sectors, in this case for cities. London has been chosen because it is generally recognized and promoted as being one of the biggest creative clusters in the United Kingdom. Consequently the paper provides insights into the larger creative industries companies, location, and networks. The argument here is that unless we have a reliable, empirical and detailed understanding of the industry in London, public policy interventions intended to support and develop these businesses is at best uninformed. |
| Simon Roodhouse is currently Professor at Middlesex University Institute of Work Based Learning, Adjunct Professor of Creative Industries, University of Technology, Sydney, and Director of Safe Hands (Management) Ltd a strategic consultancy engaged in education and cultural industries. (More information can be found on his website: www.simonroodhouse.com) Previously he has been Professor in Creative Industries at the University of the Arts, London, Adjunct Professor at CIRAC, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia; Visiting Professor Creative Industries, the University of Bolton, and the University of Greenwich. |
| Contact information: |
| Babs Verploegh |
