Ambitious plans to grow the economy and boost UK creative industries by £50b by 2030 and provide one million extra jobs have been outlined by the PM Rishi Sunak, following a collaborative endeavour by the Creative Industry Council and its industry partners, reports design rights champion ACID.
Some £77m of new funding for the sector has been announced, to include £50m to support more regional creative clusters, and advanced screen and performance technology research labs in Yorkshire, Dundee, Belfast, and Buckinghamshire.
"The creative industries are a true British success story, from global music stars like Adele and Ed Sheeran to world-class cultural institutions like the National Theatre," says Rishi Sunak. "These industries have a special place in our national life and make a unique contribution to how we feel about ourselves as a country. We want to build on this incredible success to drive growth in our economy - one of my key priorities – and to ensure that UK creative industries continue to lead the world long into the future.”
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer adds: “The imagination and ingenuity of British designers, producers, content creators, writers and artists are spearheading growth right across our economy.”
ACID comments: “For too long, the dialogue has been about fintech, so it’s right that there is a sharp focus on the creative industries and its social and economic value being championed as a vehicle for growth. Whilst we welcome focus on the fashion sector and admire funds for the circularity campaign, design is often misunderstood as aesthetic only. Design is an integral part of the creative industries, and its reach spans advertising, architecture, arts, crafts, fashion, film, music, performing, arts, publishing, software, toys, games, TV, radio and video – all of which provide jobs for nearly two million people.”
Dids Macdonald OBE, CEO of ACID, says: “It is also true that the design economy and design thinking permeate all Government departments, providing rational problem-solving processes as well as ground-breaking innovation in all areas. From health to agriculture and defence to transport, design consistently provides ground-breaking solutions. I call on Government to provide a level playing field for all designers. Currently there is a disparity between copyright and unregistered design rights in both term and protection. The IP rights underpinning this important sector is critical.”
