The aim of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is to maximise the contribution of the arts sector, and through this to improve the quality of life of all. It also works with the creative industries, which are those industries with their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent and which have a potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property.
More information on the national picture
Arts Council England
The lead arts development agency in the region is the East of England office of Arts Council England, the national body which works with a wide spectrum of art forms, including:
- performing arts (theatre, music, dance, festival, arts centres and participatory arts
- visual arts
- crafts
- architecture
- media arts
- literature
As well as providing advice, guidance and development opportunities, it also distributes public funding from the Government and the National Lottery. Arts Council England has strong links with both the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and the Regional Assembly and is increasingly adding its specialist input to various elements of our work - such as in the Growth Areas and in aspects of our work with children and young people.
Screen East
Screen East is the film and media agency for the East of England. It too distributes funding from both the Government and the National Lottery for projects in these sectors. It has close links with EEDA and is developing its involvement with the Government Office for the East of England.
The Creative Industries
A mapping study commissioned by EEDA, Living East and Arts Council England East last year, demonstrated the East of England is one of the main centres for the creative industries in the UK. It has important clusters in film, animation, interactive games, software, architecture and electronic publishing. The sector employs nearly 5.5 per cent of the region’s workforce, in creative occupations. Employment in the creative industries over the 1990s grew by two-thirds, bettered only by the South East.
A partnership, including EEDA, Living East, Arts Council England East and Screen East has been working to lead the development of a creative industries strategy for the region. The partnership has commissioned consultants to produce a creative industries strategy to identify appropriate opportunities for investment in the sector. A skills matrix for the creative and cultural industries was commissioned to map supply and demand of skills and training in the region.
