Creative industries debate

Thursday 29 May 2008

Computer games pioneer Ian Livingstone will join with former Secretary of State for Education and Skills Estelle Morris and a panel of experts from the worlds of online publishing, film, finance and education to debate the future of the creative industries in the UK on Monday 2 June at London College of Communication.

The focus for the debate will be: ‘The creative industries are poised for rapid growth. Will the latest government initiatives make a difference and help turn talent into jobs?’

The recent strategy document from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, entitled ‘Creative Britain: New Talents for the Economy’ has set out a number of initiatives, designed to boost the creative industries in the UK, nurture talent and provide more structured pathways into creative careers. Proposed initiatives include an expansion of apprenticeships, a “find your talent” programme for children and young people, the establishment of regional beacons and creative hubs, a creative innovators growth programme and mixed media centres etc. There are also plans to legislate to protect intellectual property and an expansion of broadband to the “next generation.”

Panellists will address the following issues:

Will government initiatives make a difference? Or are they just another examples of paying lip service?

Is money and resources being directed in the right places?

Are there enough financial incentives for creative industries in the UK?

Should the creative industries be left to grow and flourish organically rather than be pigeonholed into structures?

Should the focus be on boosting the most profitable industries or on providing more opportunities for talented individuals?

Date: Monday 2 June

Time: 6.30-8.10 (reception 6-6.30 and 8.10 onwards)

Venue: London College of Communication, Elephant and Castle, London SE1 6SB.

Event organiser: Anne Nicholls, Head of Marketing and Communication

All media are welcome. Please RSVP to Ali Warburton

Tel. 020 7514 2217 Mob. 07788171299 Email: awarburton@lcc.arts.ac.uk

Speakers:

• Estelle Morris, former Secretary of State for Education and Skills and former Arts Minister

• Tom Campbell, Head of Creative Industries, London Development Agency

• Professor Simon Roodhouse, Director of the Creative Industries Observatory

• Ian Livingstone, Creative Director, Eidos and fantasy games author;

• Terry Ilott, Director, Film Business Academy

• Suzanna Taverne, trustee Design Museum

• Paul Carr, writer and online publishing entrepreneur

• Chair: Julia Hobsbawn, Founder/Director of Editorial Intelligence

ends

Notes to editors

1. Creative Britain: New Talents for the New Economy

The strategy is set to make 26 key commitments for Government and industry across every stage of the creative process. It is designed to turn talent into jobs and help creative businesses thrive in the international market.

Key proposals include:

• 5,000 apprenticeships to help people from all backgrounds make the most of their creative skills.

• An investigation of the path to the next generation of broadband.

• A World Creative Business Conference – an annual event bringing together world leaders in the creative and financial sectors.

• Steps to protect intellectual property.

• Centres of Excellence including a National Skills Academy and other academies dedicated to computer games and animation.

• A find your talent programme for schools.

2. Biographies

ESTELLE MORRIS (BARONESS MORRIS OF YARDLEY)

Estelle Morris was elected to Parliament in 1992 as a Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley. She became a Minister in the Department for Education and Employment in 1997 and was promoted to Secretary of State for Education and Skills in 2001 – a post she held until her resignation in October 2002. She rejoined the Government as Arts Minister in 2003 with responsibility for the creative industries amongst other things and then stepped down as an MP at the 2005 general election. She has spoken authoritatively about the creative industries in Lords debates.

JULIA HOBSBAWM

Julia Hobsbawm is Founder/Director of Editorial Intelligence – a media analysis and networking company, which has been hailed as “the smartest way to keep up with comment.” Julia is well known as a pioneer of “integrity PR ” with an impressive track record in policy-related public relations and over 20 years experience. Her publication is The power of the vommentariat: How much do commentators influence politics and public opinion? (with John Lloyd, published in May 2008 in association with the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism).

TOM CAMPBELL

Tom Campbell is the Head of Creative Industries at the London Development Agency, the Mayor’s agency for driving sustainable economic growth. He also chairs the Regional Develop Agencies’ Creative Industries Network. Prior to joining the London Development Agency he worked as a senior consultant at Burns Owens Partnership, undertaking a range of research and strategy projects around the cultural and creative industries and economic development.

SIMON ROODHOUSE

Professor Simon Roodhouse is Director of the Creative Industries Observatory – a research set up in 2006 centre based at LCC that provides information about the creative industries in London, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Bejing. Professor Roodhouse has substantial experience as an educator, manager and researcher in fields that span education, the creative industries and cultural policy.

IAN LIVINGSTONE, OBE

Ian Livingstone is a leading pioneer of interactive entertainment and Product Acquisition Director of Eidos - the UK’s leading developer and publisher of video games. In 1975 he founded Games Workshop Ltd with Steve Jackson and launched Dungeons and Dragons in Europe and the Games Workshop retail chain. In 1977 he launched White Dwarf, the UK’s first interactive games magazine and was its editor for five years. At Eidos he has helped to secure many of the company’s major franchises including Tomb Raider, Championship Manager, Hitman and Pony Friends. In 2005 Ian was awarded an OBE in the 2006 New Year’s Honours List for his contribution to the Computer Games Industry.

TERRY ILOTT

Terry Ilott is Director of the Film Business Academy at the Cass Business School. From 1993-2006 he was founder and proprietor of Bridge Media, a consultancy boutique providing business development services, such as business planning and financial modelling, for companies in the entertainment industry. From 2000–2005 he was Chief Executive of Hammer Films, managing both the acquisition and later the sale of the company. He was European Managing Editor of Variety and Editor of Screen International.

SUZANNA TAVERNE

Suzanna Taverne has broad experience at board level of strategic development and organisational change, working across public and private sectors in senior management, strategy and financial roles. She is currently a trustee of the Design Museum. From 2002-2005 she was Operations Director of Imperial College and before that she was Managing Director at the British Museum, responsible for delivering The Great Court – a £100 million millennium project.

PAUL CARR

Paul Carr is a writer on new media and online publishing. He co-founded Digital Media – a cross-media publishing house and the online publishing house, Friday Towers. He was also responsible for a portfolio of websites including London by London ( www.londonbylondon.co.uk) and founding a weekly paper The London News Review. His other writing achievements include several years as Guardian new media columnist. Paul is also author of Bringing nothing to the party – true confessions of a new media whore.

3. London College of Communication (LCC) is the largest of the six colleges that make up University of the Arts London. It is based at Elephant and Castle and around 9,000 full-time and part-time students of all ages and backgrounds. Courses are run through four schools. School of Media: Courses include photography, film and TV production, journalism, animation, media design, and sound technology. School of Graphic Design: Courses include graphic design, digital design, illustration, design for advertising, information design and design for the moving image. School of Printing and Publishing: Courses include publishing production, digital media production, book arts and crafts, booking binding and surface design. School of Creative Enterprise: Courses include enterprise and management for the creative arts, retail management, international travel and tourism, public relations, arts marketing, creative advertising and interior design.

4. University of the Arts London is the first dedicated arts institution in the UK to achieve university status. Based at 22 sites across London, from Oxford Street, to the Archway, to Hackney, Wimbledon and Southwark, the University brings together six of the world's most famous art and design colleges. They are:

•• Camberwell College of Arts

•• Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design (incorporating Drama Centre and Byam Shaw School of Art)

•• Chelsea College of Art and Design

•• London College of Communication (formerly London College of Printing)

• London College of Fashion (incorporating Cordwainers).

• Wimbledon College of Art (formerly Wimbledon School of Art)

The Colleges have produced many of the greatest names in art, design, communications, fashion and performing arts, including: Anish Kapoor, Sir Terence Conran, John Galliano, Ralph Fiennes, Sarah Lucas, Gavin Turk, Stella McCartney, Gilbert and George, Antony Gormley, Pierce Brosnan, Rankin, Jefferson Hack, Mike Leigh, Malcolm McLaren, Colin Firth, Jane Root, Rebekah Wade, John Hegarty, Peter Kindersley and Tom Hunter