Former Arts and Education Minister to lead debate on the future of the creative industries

Thursday 1 May 2008

You are invited to attend a special debate on the future of the creative industries on Monday 2 June at London College of Communication. Former Arts Minister and Secretary of State for Education, Estelle Morris will open the debate:“The creative industries are poised for rapid growth. Will the latest government initiatives make a difference and help turn talent into jobs?”

A panel representing leading figures from different areas of the creative industries will include:

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

• Terry Ilott, Director of the Film Business Academy, Cass Business School;

• Suzanna Taverne, Non-Executive Director and Trustee of the Design Museum;

• Paul Carr, Guardian new media columnist and online publishing entrepreneur;

• Ian Livingstone, fantasy author and Director of a computer games company,

• Simon Roodhouse, Professor of Creative Industries and Director of the Creative Industries Observatory.

The creative industries are growing at twice the rate of the rest of the economy and are now regarded as of equal importance to the UK as the financial sector. The focus will be on the recent government strategy document‘Creative Britain: new talents for the new economy” which proposes a range policies designed to boost the creative industries in the UK and nurture creative talent.

Date: Monday 2 June 2008

Time: 6.30pm start. Reception 6.00– 6.30pm and 8.00– 9.00pm

Venue: London College of Communication

Elephant and Castle

London, SE1 6SB

Nearest tube/train: Elephant and Castle

RSVP to Ali Warburton Tel. 020 7514 2217 or Mob 07788171299. Email a.warburton@lcc.arts.ac.uk or press@lcc.arts.ac.uk

or contact

Anne Nicholls, Head of Marketing and Communications. Tel: 020 7514 2185 Email. a.nicholls@lcc.arts.ac.uk

Notes to editors

1. Panel Members/Speakers

Tom Campbell - Head of Creative Industries at the London Development Agency. Before joining the LDA, Tom worked as a senior consultant undertaking research and strategy projects around cultural and creative industries.

Terry Ilott– Director of the Film Business Academy at the Cass Business School. Prior to this Terry was founder/owner of Bridge Media, a consultancy providing business development services for companies, such as Warner Brothers, in the entertainment industry.

Suzanna Taverne– Non-Executive Director and Trustee of the Design Museum, former managing Director of the British Museum, now has a portfolio career that covers financial services and the cultural sector.

Paul Carr– an online publisher and expert on new media, having been CEO and founder of several websites and online publishing houses including Friday Towers. Paul also writes for The Guardian on new media issues.

Ian Livingstone– fantasy author and game entrepenaur. Ian founded Games Workshop in the 1970’s and created Dungeons and Dragons. He is now director of Eidos– the company that created Tomb Raider.

Simon Roodhouse– Professor of Creative Industries at London College of Communication and Director of the Creative Industries Observatory, a University of the arts London research project at the college that is bringing together information about the creative industries in London and four cities in China and India.

2. Creative Britain: New Talents for the New Economy

Key proposals include:

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

• Investigate the path to 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.

• Find your Talent programme for schools.

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.

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