Developing the potential of
the creative industry in the West
Phoenix 2010 Partenariat
21st-22nd April 2010 - Portrush, Northern
Ireland
Ian Brannigan (Regional Development Manager WDC)
Presentation Outline – Creative West
 The
Background
 The
Journey
 What
we found
 What
next
Western Region of Ireland
Western Region of Ireland
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7 counties – Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim,
Roscommon, Mayo, Galway, Clare
Pop – 762,000 (68% in rural areas)
1 city (Galway); 5 towns >10,000
Employment – Public sector;
industry; wholesale & retail;
construction; agri
GVA <75% state average
Workforce with 3rd level rose 19%28% (2002-2008)
Western Development Commission
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Formed 1999, Statutory remit
to foster and promote growth in
the Western Region
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State body currently under
DCRAGA
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4 Strategic Goals for regional
support:
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Support the sustainable economic and
social development of the rural economy
Contribute to balanced regional
development by ensuring region
maximizes its economic and social
potential
Promote benefits of living, working and
doing business in the Western Region –
LookWest.ie
Provide risk capital to SMEs and Social
Enterprises (WDC Investment Fund)
Creativity and Innovation definitions
Creativity
Imaginative activity fashioned
so as to produce outcomes
that are both original and of
value.
(UK NACCCE, 1999)
Innovation
A new or significantly
improved product (good or
service), or process, a new
marketing method, or a new
organizational method,
business practice, workplace
organization or external
relations
(Oslo Manual, OECD 2006)
Clare creative word cloud
Sligo creative word cloud
Creative enterprises – County example of participants - Clare
ABS Architects
Acton BV
C Signs
Care Local Studies Project
Hofnaflus
Honan Antiques
McCarthys
Spanish Point, Miltown Malbray, Ennis, Co. Clare.
Advanced Internet Marketing
Careers & Educational Publishers
Casseo
CCC Network Systems
Celtic Designs
Claddagh Crafts
Clare Couriers Newspaper
Clare Craft & Design
Clare FM Radio
Comfort Interiors
Compuscript
Howard Morris
Indigo Signs
Intelligent Solutions
Internet Bureau
McNamara Printers
Aidan Sweeney Photography
Ailwee Cave
Alan Finn Design Services
Alex Russell
Alternative Photography
Market St, Ennis, Co Clare.
Andreucetti Aldo Paul
Cooga, Kildysart, Ennis, Co. Clare.
Anique Loft
Clarecastle, Ennis, Co. Clare.
Anna Kirby
Conference Connections
Corrig Iron
IT Providers
J Boyd
Jane Sullivan Hats
Jim Gilroy
John A O Reilly, Chartered Architect
John Carmody
John Griffin Photography
John Halligan Architects
Anthony Manning MRIAI RIBA Architect
Art & Designs
Art Works Design
Attachmate Ireland
Avocent International
Cratloe Woods House
Axis Architech
B Tech
BH Associates
Dermot & Sean Merry Architects
DJ Photos
Dolmen Gallery
Knock Crafts
Krystal Signs
Lahinch Seaworld & Leisure
Billing Ireland
DPD Ireland
Lakeside Lodge Angling CentreView Map
Patrick O'Grady
Paul Howie
Paul Lehane Photography
BIS Creative Fusion
Blake Michael
Brian Holroyd Miama M Inst Misa
Euro Film & Media
Eurofilm & Media
Fanore Software
Liam Dowling
Quill Ireland
Little Silvermines
Burren National Park
Burren Outdoor Education Centre
FMC-Tech Ltd
Reaney Computer Solutions
Repron Ltd
RS Design & Engineering Services
Turlough, Bell Harbour, Co Clare.
Business Integrated Services
Glór - Irish Music Centre
Hayes Print
Burren college of art
Cumann Luithchleas Gael
D2 Printing
Datel Consulting International
David Browne & Associates
Forde Photography Nuj Ippa
Kaboom Design
Kelleher Sign Graphics
Kenny Knitware Manufacturing Int.
Mentor Graphics (Ireland)
Merit Solutions
Merlin Films International
Micheal Keating
Micheal Meijer
Mike McGlynn Antiques
MiT Ltd
Modena Design
Navarasoft Ltd
O'Brien Studios
Bunratty Folk Park, Bunratty, Shannon, Co. Clare.
Kilkee Waterworld
Killeen Photography
M Maloney
Magnetic Music
Majella Murray
Martin G Murphy
Samuel Walsh
O'Gorman Signcraft
O'Meara Camping
O'Neills Funfair & Healthclub
O'Nuallain Architects
Origin Design
Pat Talty Manufacturing
RSA Security Ireland Ltd
Ryan Tease Architects
Salmon Publishing
Western Region of Ireland – video links
The Region
Creative person Mark Dwyer
Creative business
Creative Person - west
New Global Competition for Talent
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Economic success depends on new
terms of competition
–A nation’s ability to mobilize,
attract and retain creative human
talent (Richard Florida, Flight of the
Creative Class)
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But REGIONS* compete for talent,
not nations
–Creative people don’t choose
countries, they think of cities or
regions
•Silicon Valley, Cambridge,
Stockholm, Vancouver, Sydney
Equally where people followed jobs –
in CE jobs follow creative people**
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•- David A Wolfe – Centre for international studies University of Toronto
** Robert Huggins University of Cardiff
*
Policy Context
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Little national policy on the creative sector:
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Enterprise Strategy Group (2004), Forfás (2006)
EGFSN, Digital Media Skills + forthcoming
NESF, ‘Arts, Cultural Inclusion & Social Cohesion’ 2007
DAST - Arts Council, Irish Film Board, Culture Ireland (Arts & Culture Plan 2008)
Building Ireland’s Smart Economy (2008)
need to pursue an integrated policy framework to maximize the return
economically, culturally and socially from [the arts, culture and creative]
sectors.’
EU 2009 Year of creativity and innovation
 Rural significance of CE
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EU-27 – 24% of cultural emp in sparsely populated areas
50 fastest growing rural districts in Britain (5.5% creative emp) v 50 slowest growing (4.6% creative emp)
Rural counties in US – higher % of creative occupations positively associated with emp growth
‘We
Why the Creative Sector?
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Significant, indigenous
sector
Strong growth potential
High quality employment
Stimulates innovation in
wider economy – strong
linkages
Important social
role/attractiveness of
area
Promotes rural and
regional development
Creative West – the journey
Discover
Analyse
Design & Develop
Deliver
•Growth
•opportunities
Stakeholder consultations
Industry Advisory group
Today
Sectoral analysis
Summarized report
Aim – To articulate the status
of the creative economy, and evaluate
and facilitate sustainable growth therein
Policy support
program
Creative economy
Support program
•Resources
•Partners – NUIG, EU, etc
Creative West: Selected findings
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Avg productivity of creative
sector in WR - €25,000 per
employee
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39% self-employed/ 12% over
10 employees
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Low export activity, 2/3 do not
export
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Crafts &
music/visual/performing arts
highest value of exports
Creative Employment
by County
Potential for up to 2000 additional jobs in Region
Issues for Creative Sector 
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Pool of creative talent, not fully utilised
Creativity in schools
Quality of life is key attractor
Broadband constraint in rural areas (creative tech)
Lack of suitable workspace,
Low networking activity
Coherent marketing/branding
Need to link latent creativity to broader economy via
innovation
Challenges common
to many
NPP regions !
Recommendations for Creative Sector
Next Steps
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Locally - Findings and recommendations of creative west being
used by county development boards in regional plans – e.g. Sligo,
Galway, Mayo
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Pan Regionally Using the “creative west” findings to design and
develop a significant Pan regional growth program for the sector
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Vision Global perception of regions as a creative hotbed. Fulfilling
endogenous potential and attracting global talent.
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Value - To create a platform for sector growth through international market
and product opportunities
People – Functioning networks of practice spreading within and outside of
the region to invigorate ideas and develop skills and opportunities
Pan regional Ecosystem – Evolve the built and support infrastructure into a
sustainable creative ecosystem, which is capable of internal growth and
seeding the wider economies innovation
Platform product will seek to drive Jobs and product
growth in regions.
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Nationally Meet with relevant government Departments and
agencies & EU on policy implications (Smart Economy)
Contact:
ianbrannigan@wdc.ie
Tel: 00 353 94 986 1441
Mobile 00 353 866048012