andy-pratt-2007

New policies for the new cultural economy : 

New policies for the new cultural economy Learning from the UK ‘creative industries’ policy experience. Andy C Pratt Department of Geography & Environment / LSE Urban Research Centre

Aims and Objectives : 

Aims and Objectives Examine the changing field of culture and the cultural/creative industries (CCI) Policy ‘out of sync’, the need for a new rationale ‘English’ CCI policy Challenges and lessons from the English experience

The times, they are ‘a changing 1. : 

The times, they are ‘a changing 1. The new economy Declining manufacturing Redirection of youth, identity, culture Knowledge economy Creative class Globalisation National/regional competition Clusters Foreign direct investment Innovation

The times, they are ‘a changing 2. : 

The times, they are ‘a changing 2. Culture changed (see later : CCI changed) ‘Marketisation’ of culture Massive growth in consumption Changing spending patterns Redrawn divisions of high/low; culture/non-culture The state Neo-liberal/ small state Regulation not investment Reduction in spending Especially, arts and culture

Cultural policy for ‘old times’ : 

Cultural policy for ‘old times’ State protection of the ‘good life’ Rationale Market failure Public goods, welfare economics Baumol’s cost disease Cultural elitism ‘corruption of culture by the market/masses’ Governance Cultural cohesion Result State budget (subject to variation, uncertainty, to cuts) Idiosyncratic selection of what is culture (elite) Separation from commercial culture (by definition) Conservative/ not dynamic/ backward looking

English Creative industries Policy 1. : 

English Creative industries Policy 1. Devolution: nations and regions Historic role of urban authorities in CCI Concepts Tensions of: Cultural/creative Commercial/Non-commercial Formal/Informal Production/Consumption Breadth and Depth “Mapping” ‘Evidence based policy’, evaluation Output measures (what we need) Institutions and Organizations Capacity, sustainability, appropriateness

English Creative industries Policy 2. : 

English Creative industries Policy 2. Investment Sources: Departments, Regions, Local authorities, Lottery Capital and Revenue funding Training National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (NESTA) ‘Arms length bodies’ Arts Council Museums and Libraries Film Council Crafts Council BBC Regional development agencies/ Regeneration Tensions of instrumental v. dedicated policy

English Creative industries Policy 3. : 

English Creative industries Policy 3. Strategic guidance Education Creative Economy Programme British Council Trade partners UK Department of Trade Regulation Content Ofcom Business Competition Commission

The times, they are ‘a changing. 3 : 

The times, they are ‘a changing. 3 Characteristics of the CCI; what we know now (but need to know more) Missing middle, informal intermediaries Ecosystem Project based companies Overlapping networks Winner takes all Rapid turnover/ innovation/ product cycle Massive market uncertainty Content regulation v. Competition regulation

Cultural policies for ‘New times’ 1. : 

Cultural policies for ‘New times’ 1. Commercial v non-commercial boundary How to govern it New skills and agencies: institution building Industries converging and changing State agencies lack skills a third/ new sector? Funding/Support justification Old: market failure New: Exports, IPR, cultural value...? Employment status Precarious and freelance labour Social welfare issues

Cultural policies for ‘New times’ 2. : 

Cultural policies for ‘New times’ 2. Lack of substantive understanding of the industry/-ies Institutional, regulatory, governance Reliance on generic policy Role of situated, collective/ social knowledge Reputation Learning and Innovation Excellence Market/Audience/Consumer development

Andy C Pratta.c.pratt@lse.ac.uk : 

Andy C Pratta.c.pratt@lse.ac.uk