Morning, Monday, 17th June 2024
This conference focuses on priorities, strategic options and next steps for creative clusters in the UK.
It will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to examine the roles of clusters now and into the future in the context of industrial strategy going forward, looking at how the role and definition of clusters is likely to evolve, modes of investment, and how funding can best be applied to maximise impact on local economies.
Delegates will discuss how best to optimise the impact and benefits of clusters in the creative industries, in light of the new round of funding and targets announced in DCMS’ Creative Industries Sector Vision.
The agenda is structured to bring out latest thinking on multi-disciplinary approaches to R&D and innovation, and on strategies for raising and most effectively utilising investment.
Further sessions will look at priorities for growth and sustainability of clusters, with a focus on attracting talent and developing commercial skills.
We are pleased to be able to include keynote sessions with: Professor Christopher Smith, Executive Chair, Arts and Humanities Research Council; Dr Josh Siepel, Research Lead for Creative Clusters, Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre; and Tom Adeyoola, Strategic Director, Extend Ventures.
Overall, areas of discussion include:
- progressing the creative clusters vision: priorities - stakeholder roles - maximising the impact of clusters for the creative industries, partners and more widely - next steps for creative clusters in UK industrial strategy
- research and innovation: cultivating holistic, multi-disciplinary approaches to innovation - priorities for R&D to support growth - alternative approaches to fostering innovation
- investment: identifying and channelling funding to further long-term strategic aims - the role of incubators in supporting scale-up - broadening opportunities in the creative sectors
- skills:
- developing commercial literacy and frameworks for the financial acumen of creative SMEs - STEM to STEAM: how the arts can be integrated into the STEM education system
- flexibility in training programmes - adapting to innovation, changing skills needs and student expectations - cross-sector skills development
- collaboration: what is needed to enable efficient collaboration between clusters and the wider business and education sectors - attracting and retaining experience
The conference will be an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who are due to attend from DBT; DLUHC; HMRC; and The Scottish Government.
