Six weeks before the UK’s General Election, just announced for 12 December 2019, the national membership body for the creative industries has published a 10-point manifesto as a call to action aimed at the next government.
The Creative Industries Federation‘s new manifesto (see below) calls for creative education to be ‘at the heart of the school curriculum’, with resources to be made available to all students to support the recommendations of the recent Durham Commission, and wider measures of the value of creative education to be recognised beyond salary levels.
The CIF also proposes a £1bn (US$1.25bn) regional investment fund, reductions to local business rates (taxes) and the maintenence of funding either from the EU or, failing that, through replacement investment by the UK government.
Tackling inequalities, building communities
According to the Federation, ‘the creative industries deliver economic, social and reputational value. They add over £100bn to the UK’s economy, export £46bn in goods and services worldwide and are growing at twice the rate of the general economy. The sector employs more than 2 million people, and expects to create one million more jobs by 2030. Beyond these economic benefits, the creative industries continue to tackle regional inequalities, build communities across the UK, and enable individuals to lead lives that are happier, healthier, more sociable, and enriched through access to culture and creativity.
‘There is enormous potential to go further. Despite their great successes, our creative industries are often under-capitalised, suffer from skills shortages that impede growth, and are hampered by a lack of diversity and unequal access to the opportunities that organisations and individuals need to reach their full potential. While talent and creativity can be found everywhere, access to the money, markets and networks needed to succeed cannot. The result is lost opportunities for individuals and communities as well as a cost to the national economy.’
The Federation said:
‘Hundreds of creative organisations and individuals from every region of the UK have contributed to the development of the manifesto. With the House of Commons voting for a general election on December 12th, it is vital that the key issues impacting the UK’s creative industries are addressed in the campaign and policy changes are made by the next Government to enhance our thriving sector and move past no-deal uncertainty.’
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