Cardiff University’s Creative Economy team is convening a symposium to examine the components of a creative city, in partnership with British Council Wales.
Cardiff: Creative Capital is in response to a growing awareness of the importance of the creative economy, not only in its contribution to people’s quality of life but as a distinctive segment of the economy in its own right.
The event will draw on insights from the first year of the Creative Cardiff Network - a project which sets out to confirm Cardiff as a creative city, with a significant cultural sector that is not only part of the fabric of life in the city but a cornerstone of its economy.
Supported by British Council Wales, the day will also include themes and trends emerging from wider research and the perspectives of leading thinkers on the creative economy.
The keynote will be delivered by leading economist in this field, and Director of Creative Economy in Policy and Research at Nesta, Hasan Bakhshi.
Chair of Digital Economy at Cardiff University, Professor Ian Hargreaves, will host the symposium. He said: “Cardiff is promoted as a top city for liveability. That's right, but we want to add that a liveable city is a creative city.
“Creative Cardiff's work is about helping to grow momentum in the city region's creative economy, which will play an ever more important part in providing jobs, prosperity and a richer way of life.
“This event is designed to develop Cardiff's conversation with other creative cities and to explore the creative sector's needs, in areas such as digital infrastructure and education.”
Rebecca Gould, Head of Arts at British Council Wales, said: “The Creative Cardiff Network research undertaken by Cardiff University is key to deepening our understanding of Cardiff’s fertile creative economy and will provide solid empirical evidence of the cities status as one of the UK’s core creative hubs. The symposium offers us a chance to share this research with a wide audience; to invigorate, inspire and educate.
“Creativity, whether it comes from the grassroots, independent organisations or established formal industries, runs through the lifeblood of Wales. Cardiff, as the capital city, is in many ways the epicentre of this. Supporting Cardiff’s creative network is important not just from an economic point of view but also from a social perspective.”
A key aim of the Creative Economy project and the allied Creative Cardiff Network is to gain a better understanding of Cardiff’s creative economy. Over the last year, as there is little current data on the shape, character and breadth of the creative economy in Cardiff, mapping research has been carried out to identify those people, organisations and businesses working in the creative industries.
The subsequent report, Mapping Cardiff’s Creative Economy, will be disseminated at Cardiff: Creative Capital symposium by Professor Justin Lewis of Cardiff University’s School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies.
Cardiff: Creative Capital will take place on Thursday, 8 December from 9.30am until 4pm in Cardiff University’s Hadyn Ellis Building. To secure a free place, register on Eventbrite.