Last month saw the launch of Create Britain – a new national initiative spearheaded by networking resource, Creativepool, which aims to celebrate and champion the UK’s creative industry. The official launch event – which was held at BAFTA, London – drew a plethora of indivduals from the creative industries willing to show their support for the campaign.
Representatives from Clerkenwell Design Week, 100% Design, Sane & Able, Stocks Taylor Benson and Shaun Clarkson were among the guests to sign letters to the PM, David Cameron, and Culture Secretary, Maria Miller, which called on the Government to recognise the multi-billion pound value that the creative industries provide for the UK economy each year.
Throughout the evening, guests also captured the spirit of the creative industries by collaborating on a unique canvas, donated by Dulux. The canvas will now be taken around the UK as part of the Create Britain initiative, enabling individuals to contribute. The final piece will eventually be sold in an online auction, with all proceeds going towards funding student tuition at the School of Communication Arts (SCA 2.0).
Marc Lewis, dean of SCA 2.0, says: “We live in exponential times, and the speed of changes to consumption patterns in just the last few years is staggering. Today’s consumers get meaning from sharing intangibles and experiences rather than simply the purchasing of goods.
“The curriculum hasn’t had time to catch up with this cultural shift, so it’s vital that the industry takes a stand to help shape the creative professionals of tomorrow and safeguard the industry’s future success. That’s why SCA 2.0 is supporting Create Britain – to keep Britain creating now and in years to come.”
Marc, Rory Sutherland and a host of other guests lined up to add their names to the Create Britain Charter, which sets out a list of aims that the initiative hopes to achieve in 2013 and beyond. The campaign aims to protect, promote and ensure recognition of the creative industries as an invaluable asset to the UK economy by:
“¢ promoting creative collaboration between organisations
“¢ maintaining influence and social significance
“¢ granting immunity to all arts subjects against future austerity cuts
“¢ ensuring that the vocational teaching of creative subjects remains a right of every British citizen
“¢ securing investment in the promotion of all UK creative industries
Michael Tomes, MD at Creativepool comments: “We’re thrilled that the industry has come together to celebrate the success of the creative sector and discuss the challenges that we face. The design industry is one of the UK’s major success stories – contributing over £30b each year to GDP – but there’s so much more that we could do with the right support.
“Create Britain is a call to action for the Government to really get behind the industry and support agencies, brands and individuals today, as well as taking appropriate steps to nurture tomorrow’s creative talent.”
Andrew Greenhalgh, marketing director at Creativepool, adds: “Creative people like Shaun Clarkson are opinion leaders – they have faced adversity, but made a name for themselves by being themselves. The nature of the creative is to be a trailblazer and an individual, to try the untried and push boundaries. It is this type of creativity that Create Britain looks to support.”
The Create Britain initiative is set to take place throughout this year, with a series of exhibitions, talks and portfolio reviews in a national road show that will see 25 events take place in creative hubs across the UK. The next event will take place at Clerkenwell Design Week, with a one-off live special event with Shaun Clarkson on 22nd May at the Farmiloe Building from 1pm.
The Create Britain Charter can be signed online here.
