Developing the potential of the creative industry in the West Phoenix 2010 Partenariat 21st-22nd April Portrush, Northern Ireland Ian Brannigan ( Regional Development Manager WDC)

Presentation Outline – Creative West  The Background  The Journey  What we found  What next

Western Region of Ireland

 7 counties – Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Mayo, Galway, Clare  Pop – 762,000 (68% in rural areas)  1 city (Galway); 5 towns >10,000  Employment – Public sector; industry; wholesale & retail ; construction; agri  GVA <75% state average  Workforce with 3 rd level rose 19%- 28% ( )

Western Development Commission  Formed 1999, Statutory remit to foster and promote growth in the Western Region  State body currently under DCRAGA  4 Strategic Goals for regional support: Support the sustainable economic and social development of the rural economy Contribute to balanced regional development by ensuring region maximizes its economic and social potential Promote benefits of living, working and doing business in the Western Region – LookWest.ie Provide risk capital to SMEs and Social Enterprises (WDC Investment Fund)

Creativity and Innovation definitions Creativity Imaginative activity fashioned so as to produce outcomes that are both original and of value. (UK NACCCE, 1999) Innovation A new or significantly improved product (good or service), or process, a new marketing method, or a new organizational method, business practice, workplace organization or external relations (Oslo Manual, OECD 2006)

Clare creative word cloud

Sligo creative word cloud

Creative enterprises – County example of participants - Clare

Western Region of Ireland – video links The Region Creative business Creative person Mark Dwyer Creative Person - west

New Global Competition for Talent *  Economic success depends on new terms of competition –A nation’s ability to mobilize, attract and retain creative human talent (Richard Florida, Flight of the Creative Class)  But REGIONS * compete for talent, not nations –Creative people don’t choose countries, they think of cities or regions Silicon Valley, Cambridge, Stockholm, Vancouver, Sydney  Equally where people followed jobs – in CE jobs follow creative people ** - David A Wolfe – Centre for international studies University of Toronto ** Robert Huggins University of Cardiff

Policy Context  Little national policy on the creative sector: Enterprise Strategy Group (2004), Forfás (2006) EGFSN, Digital Media Skills + forthcoming NESF, ‘Arts, Cultural Inclusion & Social Cohesion’ 2007 DAST - Arts Council, Irish Film Board, Culture Ireland (Arts & Culture Plan 2008)  Building Ireland’s Smart Economy (2008) ‘ We need to pursue an integrated policy framework to maximize the return economically, culturally and socially from [the arts, culture and creative] sectors.’  EU 2009 Year of creativity and innovation  Rural significance of CE EU-27 – 24% of cultural emp in sparsely populated areas 50 fastest growing rural districts in Britain (5.5% creative emp) v 50 slowest growing (4.6% creative emp) Rural counties in US – higher % of creative occupations positively associated with emp growth

Why the Creative Sector?  Significant, indigenous sector  Strong growth potential  High quality employment  Stimulates innovation in wider economy – strong linkages  Important social role/attractiveness of area  Promotes rural and regional development

Creative West – the journey Stakeholder consultations Industry Advisory group Sectoral analysis Policy support program Summarized report DiscoverAnalyse DeliverDesign & Develop Creative economy Support program Growth opportunities Resources Partners – NUIG, EU, etc Today Aim – To articulate the status of the creative economy, and evaluate and facilitate sustainable growth therein

Creative West: Selected findings  Avg productivity of creative sector in WR - €25,000 per employee  39% self-employed/ 12% over 10 employees  Low export activity, 2/3 do not export  Crafts & music/visual/performing arts highest value of exports

Creative Employment by County

Potential for up to 2000 additional jobs in Region

Issues for Creative Sector -  Pool of creative talent, not fully utilised  Creativity in schools  Quality of life is key attractor  Broadband constraint in rural areas (creative tech)  Lack of suitable workspace,  Low networking activity  Coherent marketing/branding  Need to link latent creativity to broader economy via innovation Challenges common to many NPP regions !

Recommendations for Creative Sector

Next Steps  Locally - Findings and recommendations of creative west being used by county development boards in regional plans – e.g. Sligo, Galway, Mayo  Pan Regionally Using the “creative west” findings to design and develop a significant Pan regional growth program for the sector Vision Global perception of regions as a creative hotbed. Fulfilling endogenous potential and attracting global talent.  Value - To create a platform for sector growth through international market and product opportunities  People – Functioning networks of practice spreading within and outside of the region to invigorate ideas and develop skills and opportunities  Pan regional Ecosystem – Evolve the built and support infrastructure into a sustainable creative ecosystem, which is capable of internal growth and seeding the wider economies innovation Platform product will seek to drive Jobs and product growth in regions.  Nationally Meet with relevant government Departments and agencies & EU on policy implications (Smart Economy)

Contact: Tel: Mobile