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A creative future – inquiry launch

28 July 2022

The Communications and Digital Committee is launching an inquiry into the future of the UK’s creative industries. The Committee invites written contributions by 2 September. 

There are major changes on the horizon for the UK’s creative industries. These are shaped by a range of national and global trends. This inquiry will focus on the effects of new technologies on the UK’s creative industries over the next 5-10 years, and the changes required to ensure the skills and talent pipeline can deliver what is needed for the sector to thrive in this fast-changing world. It will also consider the role of innovation and organisational adaptation.

Technological development is just one of many forces driving change in the sector, but its impacts are likely to be particularly significant. Creative content production is likely to be affected by new technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. Audience engagement will increasingly make use of digital tools, while advances in immersive experiences such as augmented or virtual reality look set to offer new ways of developing and delivering cultural content, from performances to paintings. Some business models are likely to change as new forms of consumer engagement and content distribution emerge.

As new trends develop there will be positives and negatives, opportunities and risks. They are likely to affect large institutions, small and medium sized organisations, as well as the freelancers that constitute a major part of the creative industries workforce. They will put further pressure on the need for a system that delivers the right skillsets and talent pipeline for the jobs of the future.

As the creative industries face new challenges over the next 5–10 years, policymakers and industry will need to ensure the right frameworks are in place for education, innovation and organisational adaptation to take advantage of the changes ahead.

Chair's Comment

Baroness Stowell of Beeston, Chair of the Committee, said

“The UK is recognised as a global leader in the creative economy. The sector is a key driver of our economic growth, and delivers huge value to us as a nation. But there are major changes coming. We need to understand these challenges better, and plan ahead to ensure the UK has the talent and skills pipeline we need for the creative sector to thrive in the future marketplace." 

Questions

1. Which areas of the creative industries face the greatest potential for disruption and change in the next 5–10 years, and what impact could this have?

a) What changes are expected in the way creative/cultural content is produced; the way audiences are engaged (for example through digital or immersive experiences); and the way business models operate?

2. What skills will be required to meet these emerging opportunities and challenges?

3. What actions are needed from the Government and local authorities to ensure there is an appropriate talent pipeline equipped with these skills?

a) How can this be sufficiently flexible to take account of the pace of change in the sector?

4, What actions are needed from industry to support the talent pipeline development?

a) What actions are needed from organisations in the creative industries to prepare for and accommodate the requirements of the future workforce?

5. What role do innovation and research & development play in addressing the challenges facing the creative industries?

a) What actions are needed from the Government, funding bodies and sector organisations to support innovation, and research & development?

6.  How effective are the Government’s existing strategies at supporting the creative industries to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead?

7.  What lessons can the UK’s creative industries learn from other countries, and other sectors?

Timeline

The Committee invites written contributions to its inquiry by Friday 2 September 2022.

Further information