Responding to the independent review commissioned by Labour on the creative industries and published today by John Woodward, Harriet Harman MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said:
"Our creative industries are a huge success story at home and abroad. They punch well above their weight in terms of international success and help put Britain on the map.
They have also grown faster than the rest of the economy in difficult times and we want to create the best conditions to allow them to continue to flourish which will help us earn our way to a better future.
The publication of this report is timely given the growing importance of the creative industries to our economy. I look forward to working with businesses and other stakeholders to ensure that issues such as intellectual property, skills and the regulatory environment create the right environment for the creative industries".
Chuka Umunna MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, said:
“To build an economy where everyone can succeed and reach their aspirations, the next Labour government will back sectors like Britain’s world-leading creative industries, creating the high-skilled, better paid jobs we need to see.
“This report makes an important contribution, shining a spotlight on the challenges and opportunities presented by the digital economy and on how Britain can best compete in a time of ever-greater global competition. It rightly emphasises the need to support and harness the innovation of Britain’s creative industries and ensure they can flourish and grow.”
John Woodward, investment director and MD at Arts Alliance Ltd and former CEO of the UK Film Council said:
"The UK's creative industries lead the world in terms of innovation creativity, skills and talent. This Review aims to address the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
It sought opinions and views from a wide range of stakeholders to help set out a clear agenda for an incoming Labour government to promote business growth and encourage investment in this important sector of our economy.
Crucially the review also emphasises the importance of strong public funding and policies for the arts. This is important for any civilised society.
It's a fact, long term public sector investment in culture has nurtured and inspired the talent that leads our creative industries, and only makes adequate public funding even more of a priority.
The Review also addresses the increasing globalisation of our creative industries, the challenges of raising business growth finance, the emerging gap between the terrific London success story in the creative industries and the rest of the UK, and the importance of skills and education in securing success in the future."
A copy of the report can be found here.