The University for the Creative Arts (UCA) in Canterbury, Kent has launched the Creative & Cultural Industries Leaders Network to unite industry leaders in shaping the future of the rapidly evolving creative sector.
According to the UK government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the creative and cultural industries are worth £125bn in the UK, not to mention trillions globally. It is a sector that is constantly evolving, with huge technological advances coming.
World Economic Forum employers anticipate that 39% of workers’ core skills will change by 2030. The questions are posed: how do industry leaders navigate this landscape, and how do they lead into the unknown?
Recognising the top-level discussions that are needed, UCA has launched the Creative & Cultural Industries Leaders Network (CCILN) to rise to this challenge.
Professor Lyndsay Duthie, UCA’s pro vice chancellor of academic partnerships and industry engagement, explained: “The creative and cultural industries are full of opportunity, but being part of the narrative is vital to thrive in these changing times.
“We need to think globally to maximise potential and collaborate across disciplines. UCA has developed this network with senior industry leaders to share ideas and shape its future.”
To launch the network, creative and cultural leaders attended an event hosted by UCA at its bespoke Creative Business School to examine the challenges for leadership, with speakers that included Samantha Perahia, head of production at the British Film Commission; Sara Whybrew, director of skills at the British Film Institute; Apple’s Media Arts Lab executive director Stephen Hancock; and award-winning TEDx speaker Andy Coley, all of whom acknowledged the importance of talent pipelines, resilience and leadership.
Kim Rowell, managing editor, ITN and vice chair of the Royal Television Society Technology Centre; Emma Thwaites from The Open Data Institute; Chris Wheeler from Warner Bros; and Niels Stevens from Adobe, were among other industry speakers who discussed leading for the future, considering AI, ethics and cultural power.
Professor Jane Roscoe, UCA’s president and vice chancellor, reiterated: “UCA is in a great position to facilitate the important discussions we must now have to future-proof our sector.
“The event confirmed that we can play a leading role supporting, steering and equipping the creative and cultural leaders for the challenges today and tomorrow.”
If you’d like to join UCA’s Creative & Cultural Industries Leaders Network (CCILN), email hwitt@uca.ac.uk.
