Cultural industries and the regional economy
The government’s Creative Industry Task Force claims the cultural industries are “the future economic powerhouse of this country”. Manchester has the infrastructure to take advantage of this potential to create jobs and generate economic growth. T
his is the conclusion of a research team led by the Manchester Institute for Popular Culture (MIPC) at the Manchester Metropolitan University, commissioned by the City Council, Manchester TEC, the North West Arts Board and MIDAS. Investment in culture is creating the vibrant, cosmopolitan image that brings people to Manchester.
The City includes several cultural flagship buildings such as the Bridgewater Hall, City Art Gallery and Royal Exchange Theatre which are all integral to its development. Equally important is the production of culture – theatre, music, film/television, design, publishing and muiltimedia. T
hese are not only the key to an innovative and creative cultural sector, but act as a catalyst for innovation in other sectors Culture and the local economy Cultural industries account for 3.6 per cent of employment in the City Pride area. This represents over 10,000 jobs – only slightly less than the construction industry. There are a few large employers, but the majority (58 per cent) of employment is accounted for by small and micro enterprises and sole practitioners.
National research undertaken by Spectrum indicates a potential growth rate of between four and ten per cent per annum in these industries, representing between 2,000 and 5,000 additional jobs in the City Pride area over the next five years. It is in the small businesses sector that this potential growth is the highest.
Main sub sectors
Manchester is the largest regional centre for television and film production in the UK and film and media account for 20 per cent of cultural industries employment in the area. Granada and the BBC are the major employers but rely on a whole host of micro-enterprises which provide specialist services to the industry.
Design industries account for a quarter of the cultural enterprises in the city and is one of its fastest growing sectors.
Music provides Manchester with one of its strongest images as a vibrant, contemporary and cutting edge city and is a reference point for other sub-sectors such as fashion, graphic design and multimedia.
Other key sectors in the cultural economy are architecture, publishing and writing and performing arts.
The report also emphasises the importance of festivals and events in raising the profile of the City, animating the retail centre and attracting tourists. It is a field in which Manchester has a growing national reputation and strong record of visitor attraction.
The City’s cafes, bars and the urban environment itself compliment these activities, acting as informal galleries, venues and alternative retail outlets.
Areas such as Manchester’s Northern Quarter, Gay Village, Castlefield, Salford’s Chapel Street and Ashton in Tameside are focal points for creative businesses and events which bring life to the streets and public spaces across the city.
Creativity and sustainability
Cultural industries demand flexibility and multiple skills and yet many employees and sole practitioners enter the industry without formal qualifications. The industry is particularly attractive to young people and acts as a pathway to employment and education which, in turn, leads to the development of skills and confidence. Cultural projects can play a role in strategies to create access to employment, raise educational attainment and combat social exclusion.
Strategy for growth
The research suggests that the key to growth is support for existing and new small businesses, combined with targeted inward investment to fill strategic gaps. Markets for this growth will be provided both locally and globally and Manchester’s businesses have already demonstrated an ability to access these wider markets.
Although significant in employment terms, the sector is fragile and fragmented. Intervention needs to be carried out on a new ‘bottom up’ basis which is responsive and linked to industry networks.
This approach could provide a model for other sectors such as the retail and service industries. Pilot programme The City Pride Partnership has secured £1.5 million of European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) which will enable a pilot programme to be put in place to stimulate employment and economic expansion in the cultural industries.
The programme will be spearheaded by a new cultural industries development service and will target business support to the sector, assist development in key sub-sectors and address key issues such as networking, market development and multimedia access.
The four local authorities in City Pride: Manchester, Salford, Tameside and Trafford; Manchester TEC; MIDAS and the North West Arts Board are working with the education and cultural industries sector.