Remodelled Creative Industries Council to play ‘crucial role’ in government’s sector plan

The government has announced a fresh line-up for its Creative Industries Council (CIC), intended to better represent a range of sub-sectors.

The nearly 50-strong membership and “new format” seek to prioritise regional representation, address the sector’s concerns and challenges, and support the growth of creative exports.

The cohort includes heads of cultural institutions, trade bodies, creative businesses, regional leaders and sector representatives from across the UK’s creative industries, representing sectors and subsectors, such as film & TV, music and design.

Among them are Arts Council England chief executive DARREN HENLEY; Creative Scotland chief executive IAIN MUNRO; the director of arts at Arts Council of Wales CATRYN RAMASUT; chief executive of NI Screen RICHARD WILLIAMS; and government’s as yet un-appointed Freelance Champion.

The council will be co-chaired by Culture Secretary, LISA NANDY, Business Secretary, PETER KYLE, Baroness SHRITI VADERA and Sir PETER BAZALGETTE.

The new CIC will establish working groups, with leads sitting on the council, who will develop and take forward proposals in four areas of key strategic importance to drive growth.

These include: accelerating innovation-led growth; securing growth finance for creative start-ups and scale-ups, building a resilient workforce fit for the future and increasing trade and inward investment via the Department for Business and Trade’s Creative Industries Trade & Investment Board (CITIB).

Heading up these groups will be director UK Business Angels Association, STEPHEN PEGGE (Access to Finance); managing director of Nations & Regions Channel 4 SINEAD ROCKS (Workforce); co-director, Creative Economy Unit at Cardiff University SARA PEPPER (Innovation), CMO at WPP MICHAEL FROHLICH (co-chair of CITIB) and chief executive of Edinburgh International Festival FRANCESCA HEGYI (co-chair of the CITIB).

Working group leads will sit on a core steering group that will “strategically drive” the CIC’s progress, offering practical action and helping to shape a “sector-wide narrative”.

“Our renewed council, with refreshed representation from across our sub-sectors, regions and nations, will drive forward the clear growth plan set out in the government’s industrial strategy,” said Bazalgette.

New membership of the Creative Industries Council

Co-chairs

Culture Secretary, LISA NANDY
Business Secretary, PETER KYLE
Baroness SHRITI VADERA
Sir PETER BAZALGETTE

Working group leads

STEPHEN PEGGE OBE, director UK Business Angels Association (Access to Finance)
SINEAD ROCKS, managing director of Nations & Regions, Channel 4 (Workforce)
SARA PEPPER, co-director, Creative Economy Unit at Cardiff University (Innovation)
MICHAEL FROHLICH, CMO at WPP (co-chair of the CITIB)
FRANCESCA HEGYI OBE, chief executive of Edinburgh International Festival (co-chair of the CITIB)

Members

Creative Industries Minister, IAN MURRAY
TOM ADEYOOLA, executive chair of Innovate UK 
DEBORAH ANNETTS, chair, Creators Rights Alliance
HASAN BAKHSHI, director, Creative Industries Policy and Evidence centre
JADE BEASON, CEO of the Creator Project
TRACY BRABIN, Mayor of West Yorkshire
LEE BROOKS, Production Park
Prof. JOHN COLLOMOSSE, principle scientist, Adobe
DAN CONWAY, CEO, Publishers Association
JON GILCHRIST, chief executive, Birmingham Hippodrome
DAN GUTHRIE, director general of Alliance for IP
SOPHIE HELM, co-founder of Manchester Contemporary and Manchester Art Fair
DARREN HENLEY, CEO, Arts Council England
TOM KIEHL, CEO, UK Music
ALISON LOMAX, managing director, YouTube
DEEPA MANN-KLER, CEO, NEON
JOHN MCVAY, CEO, PACT
NATALIE MELTON, executive director, Craft Council
KEITH MERRIN, deputy chair, National Museums Directors Council and Director North East Museums
MINNIE MOLL, CEO, Design Council
IAIN MUNRO, CEO, Creative Scotland
CAROLINE NORBURY, CEO, Creative UK
PAULA ORRELL, director, CVAN
NICK POOLE, CEO, UKIE
CATRYN RAMASUT, director of arts, Arts Council of Wales
RHUANEDD RICHARDS, interim nations director, BBC
BEN ROBERTS, CEO, BFI
MICK ROSS, CEO, Generator
CHRISTOPHER SMITH, executive chair, AHRC 
CHLOE STRAW, CEO, AudioUK
ALISON TICKELL, CEO, Julie’s Bicycle
Dr VALERIE VAUGHAN-DICK, CEO, RIBA
CHRIS VAN DER KUYL, CEO, 4J Studios
CLAIRE WALKER / HANNAH ESSEX, co-chief executives, SOLT/UKT
LAURA WEIR, CEO, British Fashion Council
RICHARD WILLIAMS, CEO, NI Screen
STEPHEN WOODFORD, CEO, Advertising Association
Freelance Champion, to be appointed