Platform – The creativity gap

While necessity may be the mother of invention, creativity must surely be considered to be the father. Creative expression characterises civilisation and it is no exaggeration to say that creativity has been behind every step of human evolution from the wheel to the World Wide Web. Given all this, it is no surprise that the Government wishes to harness the power of creativity  and, specifically, the creative industries. The Governments definition of the creative industries encompasses everything from advertising and architecture to fashion and software design, and it is worth pondering what binds these industries together. While many professions, from hairdressing and plastic surgery to management consultancy and football management require a creative approach, it is idea generation and creative expression that characterise the creative industries. By this definition, the arts surely deserve their place in the list. Galleries and concert halls provide a home for reflection and enlightenment; playwrights and artists cast a mirror on society that can make every member of that society think differently; actors and musicians offer examples of creative practice which can inspire us all. The creative industries as a whole may contribute £1 in every £12 of the countrys Gross Domestic Product (p1) but it is the fostering and flowering of creativity which the arts provide which can continue to make this country rich. And it is our cultural institutions and our community practitioners who provide the means for this creativity to touch all of society.
The value of the arts goes beyond economic drivers. The arts provide ideas, expression and context for the other creative industries and, indeed, for the rest of society. As an industry, the arts are at the heart of society, and, as an industry, the arts need support. According to Friends of the Earth, each year the Government offers subsidy to the airline industry of around £9bn in tax breaks and incentives. The Governments own figures indicate that agricultural subsidies will, this year alone, top £3bn. To be perceived as an industry much like any other isnt about making artists wear suits or making curators draw up business plans. It is about making the Government recognise this industrys unique contribution to society and support it just as it does so many others.

Liz Hill and Brian Whitehead, Co-editors