Clive Caines Cultural Contributor
The makers of the James Bond movies don’t need me to publicise their latest film, they’ve already done an excellent job with that, but isn’t it ironic that in the week of its record breaking release the UK education minister Michael Gove is being urged by former film maker Lord Puttnam to value the creative arts.
Now I’m sure that in the current tough economic climate there are plenty who would cheer on any government deciding that it is not necessary to put money into the arts when money can be spent on education, hospitals and much needed welfare programmes.
I also have no doubts that if every nation were to cut its art projects spend to zero and withdraw their support of the creative industries artists would find a way to carry on producing. What’s more if this scenario came to pass artists working in such a restricted climate would still find an audience for their work, but is this any reason not to support the arts.
Maybe art’s problem is that it can’t shake of the perception that it is the preserve of individuals who see themselves as slightly removed from the concerns or ordinary mortals. Then there’s the issue that creativity is something that doesn’t fit with the Fordian model of production: where reproduction and lack of individuality is the only valued form of production.
This however is a fairly jaundiced view of art and sits at odds with the view that the creative industries play a vital role in any modern economy. And let’s just be clear about what according to the UK department for culture media and sport is defined as the creative industries: “those industries which have their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent and which have a potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of economic property…
Daniel Craig as ‘James Bond’ on set. Photo courtesy empireonline.com
They include: Advertising, Architecture, Art and antiques, Film and video, Designer fashion, Interactive leisure software, Music, Publishing, Television and radio” That incomplete list makes it clear that the UK creative industry is sizeable and therefore important; as does the fact that it employs over 2 million people – in America there are 3.5 million people employed in the creative sector.
If the size of the industry isn’t enough to convince any government that the industry is worth taking seriously then surely the money it generates should make it think differently: In its opening weekend ‘Sky Fall’ toasted the 50th year of the Bond franchise with a global take of $77 million.
The games industry can point to ‘Call of Duty Black Ops’ totalling sales of $1.5 Billion. Even though the music industry is still concerned about illegal downloading it posted figures of $5.2 billion. In total the UK creative industries according to 2011 figures generated £36 billion.
I’m no professional forecaster but I find it hard not to believe that these figures suggest that the creative industries will only become stronger and more important. If I’m right then why does Sir Nicholas Serota, Director of the Tate art galleries, feel the need to warn the government that the “UK could lose its leading edge in creativity”.
I don’t want to give the impression that concern for the future of the arts only exists in the UK. In America the Americans for the Arts Action Fund have not only encouraged those that can afford do so to help fund the arts but have done all that it can to put funding the arts on the political agenda.
Photo courtesy store.activision.com
Anyone visiting the Arts Action Fund site will find an explanation of the positions taken by Romney and Obama on funding of the arts, which clearly suggests that they think that voting intentions should be based on what it means for America’s creative industries.
In earlier articles I’ve mentioned concerned individuals urging governments and youngsters to put their faith and futures in STEM subjects but it should also be recognised that it is just as important to include arts in the curriculum.
To quote Lord Puttnam again, “If we fail to offer our young people the opportunity to participate in the arts and culture, then we fail to support them in becoming the leading thinkers, innovators, creative business and community leaders of the future.”
