Creative Republic is Open for Business!
Creative Republic is now open for business, but what is it, and what's it for?
Changing Economics
Birmingham is going through something of a change at the moment. The long-standing manufacturing-based economy has moved onto a heavily 'service'-based economy over recent years and there is increasing discussion on the possibility that we are moving into what's being called a 'knowledge economy' - where creativity, intellectual property, ideas and innovation are the areas of growth and importance to the city's future development.
So, you'd think that in these times of rapid change, where the 'creative industries' are the biggest growth area of the UK economy by the latest figures we have, that there would be widespread recognition of the sector's importance.
But experience tells us otherwise.
Small is the new Big
As I've said a few times 'Small is the new Big'. The creative and cultural industries in the city are made up mostly of micro-businesses and freelancers, with a relatively small number of businesses having more than ten or so employees, and fewer still getting into the 'global corp' level of employment.
But what's very interesting is that when you add all of those micro-enterprises up, together they make a big impact on Birmingham's economy.
We account for £1BN of Birmingham's 'GVA', according to research produced by Birmingham University.
That means we're bigger than the Financial Services sector in the city, for instance, and all of the universities put together.
Who makes the decisions?
You'd expect that decision-makers within the city, who have to make day-to-day decisions on the future of where we live to be fully aware of these facts. As far as I've noticed, many are still only getting their head around the idea.
At a recent pretty high level meeting I was at, someone actually piped up that "the creative industries hadn't made an effective case yet".
That strikes me as something of a problem. If across the world governments and cities are gearing themselves up for a new way of operating and competing on a global stage, and out city's leaders aren't valuing our contribution to the city I think something needs to be done.
Is it the case that other parts of the city's business community get their voices heard more effectively because they have more established business models and more effective networks to get those voices in touch with people who can influence change?
A concerted effort
For the last three years I've been connecting up with lots of people, trying to cross-network between the business community and the creative community, finding common ground and common ideas and trying to make interesting things happen.
And the good thing is that along the way I've met people who have similar ambitions for this city, so we've teamed up and together we've set up something called 'Creative Republic'.
We want to get representatives together from across all areas of the creative and cultural industries in the city, and organise ourselves into a collective voice for what we have to say about the future of the city.
With that £1BN behind us it surprises me that there is no one place that someone can come to in this city to talk to 'the creatives', and we'd like to see that change.
There's power in numbers, and if we all group together and say 'let's make this city better through creativity and culture' I firmly believe we can make a significant impact.
How?
That's the easy bit.
Turn up to a party we're organising at Concrete at the Big Peg, Hockley on Thursday the 21st February.
Have a chat, meet other like-minded people, enjoy a (free if you get there early enough) drink, have some fierce conversations and see what you think about what we're proposing.
If you like what you hear, and you want to get involved then that's great - we're looking for people to join us and make great things happen.
Details of the party are on the Creative Republic website, and if you're a Facebook user there's a Facebook event. Or just turn up on the day, but be sure to RSVP to Lorraine - lorraine@creativerepublic.org.uk
See you there?