Policy

The General Secretary of performers' union Equity has urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to forget the creative industries in his plans for a “decade of national renewal”.

Speaking to Left Foot Forward at the TUC congress, Paul W Fleming said: “If a decade of national renewal doesn’t include an industrial plan for the creative industries, then there’s not going to be a decade of national renewal.”  

To do this, Fleming said Labour would need to "return arts funding to where it was".

“We do creative industries very, very well," he said.

"We’re the second largest producer of film and TV in the world. We’re the second largest producer of video games in the world.

"Creative industries are worth more to the economy than banking. Without a sectoral plan and without an industrial strategy, we’re not going to maximise the potential.”

This year's Labour Party conference in Liverpool will play host to a range of discussions and debates in a specially created Cultural and Creative Industries Pavilion.

The pavilion, which has been coordinated by Creative UK, will be located inside the 'secure zone' during the 22-24 September conference, with events being run by more than 40 partners across the arts and culture sector.

The aim, say its organisers, is to highlight to politicians and policymakers "the solutions the cultural and creative industries have for the socio-economic challenges we face".

The programme will focus on issues such as soft power and Britain’s role in the world, rethinking funding and finance models, the impact of AI, and regional investment and devolution.

Among the creative organisations participating are Art Fund, Crafts Council, Channel 4, Design Council, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, the Independent Society of Musicians and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Well-known names to be involved include Steve McQueen, Vicky McClure, Andy Serkis, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and David Morrissey.

Creative UK Chief Executive Caroline Norbury said: "The Cultural and Creative Industries Pavilion has been programmed by 40 leading creative organisations from across the sector, spanning screens, stages, galleries, museums, studios, classrooms and more.

"It is an extraordinary opportunity for our sector to speak with one voice on the issues which matter, and for our perspective to be heard by leaders from across the Labour Party, including those at the very highest levels of UK government." 

She added: "Since winning the UK General Election, the Labour Party has made clear their commitment to creativity. Now is the time for pledges to become practice, and this conference is our opportunity to ensure a roadmap for our sector is firmly in place."

The full pavilion programme can be found at conference.wearecreative.uk