Creative Clusters 2008

Glasgow, UK
Scottish Government
Scottish Arts Council
Scottish Enterprise Glasgow
Glasgow Concert Halls

THEME OF THE CONFERENCE
Creativity is the key factor driving development. Businesses based on creativity are transforming the global economy, and policy-makers are scrambling to respond.
The specific themes faced by the conference were:
1. The creative economy in smaller nations
In the ‘winner takes all’ world of the creative economy, it is increasingly apparent that issues facing the creative industries in smaller nations are substantially different from those in larger ones. 
2. The moving image goes online: harnessing audio-visual media for the regional economy
Film and television bring big benefits to a local creative economy, building prestige, confidence and identity as well as encouraging enterprise and employment. At present, the focus for economic development is to attract the big networks, and establish them as hubs around which other media businesses can cluster
3. Policy for festivity: the creative economy and live events
From Beijing to Manchester, Dublin to Singapore, cities are investing in cultural events to drive economic development and to tell the world, and their own citizens, what they are and what they will become. It is now accepted wisdom that major events improve regional competitiveness and attract inward investment by positioning the host as a knowledge and cultural leader. 
4. Strategic leadership in the creative economy
The creative economy, with its economic, cultural and social dimensions, calls for multidisciplinary policy responses and inter-ministerial action. There is growing evidence that many government bodies are responding to this challenge.
5. The long story of Glasgows creative economy
Culture and creativity have been at the heart of Glasgow’s regeneration policies for a generation, from the Garden Festival to the Commonwealth Games, taking in City of Culture, Year of Architecture and Design, UNESCO City of Music, ‘Scotland with Style’ and more 

THE SPEAKERS
• Lewis Pinault
• Olivia Grange
• Caroline Thompson
• Dame Cheryll Sotheran
• Edna Dos Santos Duisenburg
• Ching Lee Goh
• Alex Poots
• Jonathan Mills
• Blair Jenkins
• Gordon Torr
• Michael Keane
• Anne Bonnar

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND CONTACTS
Creative cluster Website