Culture Media and Sport Committee publish report on creative industries

First published on Thu, September 26, 2013.

The Culture Media and Sport committee have released their new report, ‘Supporting the Creative Economy’, which references written and oral evidence submitted by Creative & Cultural Skills.

The report touches upon issues including skills, education and training, Intellectual Property laws, finance for small businesses and freelancers, creative hubs and the continuation of the Creative Industries Council. It offers a particularly critical response to recent changes to the education system which have led to a decrease in the number of students engaging with creative subjects in schools.

Key Recommendations:

• Arts subjects should be added to the list of five ‘core’ subjects which currently constitute the EBacc performance measure.

• The crucial role of arts subjects in a modern education should be recognised. Art subjects should be included amongst the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) subjects which receive such prominence in schools, changing STEM to STEAM.

• As it continues to introduce further changes to the national curriculum, the Government must ensure that students up to key stage 3 receive a solid grounding in the arts and design. Students aged 14-16 (key stage 4) must be able to access the widest possible programme of creative subjects to prepare them to play a full part in the knowledge economy. 

• School children should be introduced to the ideas of intellectual property and the nature of business to gain a better understanding of the importance of creativity both to the learning process and to wider society and the economy. 

• When it comes to strengthening and nurturing apprenticeships, the Government needs to do much more than exhort and encourage industry to participate. Government has to communicate clearly and widely about the opportunities that exist, giving examples of good practice. The case for tax reliefs for companies—particularly in the creative sector—should be examined more closely.

• The government should open and promote a clear channel of advice to creative individuals interested in setting up business—a creative business 'hub'. The government should also commit to training business advisors for the sector. 

• The Creative Industries Council should publish an annual report which includes an update on the implementation of recommendations made by itself and its sub-groups.