Creative England celebrates launch of its Creative Cities initiative
A word from Caroline Norbury MBE, Creative England, Chief Executive.
According to the latest estimates by the United Nations, world trade in creative goods and services stands at over $624 billion – and that figure is growing, rapidly! Needless to say, that’s a huge global market and, when it comes to the potential of the UK’s creative sectors to tap into it, the sky truly is the limit.
The government recognises our creative success and the potential for future growth. Indeed, the Chancellor of the Exchequer recently proclaimed that the UK’s creative industries are in the midst of a new ‘golden age’ as he addressed a packed House of Commons in Parliament.
All the forecasts now predict that the creative industries will grow at twice the rate of the general economy over the next half decade. And with major established creative communities in cities up and down the country, the creative sectors undoubtedly have a major role to play in helping to stimulate the balanced growth that all the main political parties now talk about on a daily basis.
Our great creative cities - from Newcastle to Bristol - are in a prime position to take advantage of the growing global market for creative goods and services. It’s Creative England’s job to help them do this; creating the right conditions for creative people and companies to thrive and raising the profile of the contribution they make to the growth of the economy.
We’re proud to be working alongside the IPA and the Drum on the Creative Cities Initiative. There’s never been a stronger argument for our government, our cities and our regions to nurture and support local creativity and we think the best way to shine a light on England’s creative achievement is to celebrate it.
And that’s what this initiative is all about – spreading the good news, championing the exceptional creativity that’s one of the hallmarks of this country and making sure that the contribution and future potential of our creative cities is clear to all.
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