The Government´s Department of Culture, Media & Sport defines the creative industries `...as those industries that 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 intellectual property.
This includes advertising, architecture, the art and antiques market, crafts, design, designer fashion, film and video, interactive leisure software, music, the performing arts, publishing, software and computer games, television and radio´.
How the cultural industries fit in to Colchester business sector
In recent years the cultural industries have begun to play an active role in Colchester´s economy. This includes specialist shops for those individual gifts, to café/gallery spaces where you can enjoy a coffee and chat in an atmosphere of artistic calm. Some cafés actually sell work on behalf of artists.
At present, Colchester has various incubators:
· The Colchester Business Centre
· Four main professional arts venues (Mercury Theatre, Colchester Arts Centre, Signals Media Arts and firstsite)
· Cuckoo Farm - a space where artists can develop their work with other artists and in an environment that encourages creativity. Artists based at the Farm make their living through commissions, workshop activity, talks and organising events at the Farm.
The future
There are also other `smaller´ incubators which are based on developing community capacity in order to generate and develop skills locally in order to build on a workforce for the future.
The future for Colchester is exciting and our goal can only be achieved through providing the right environment and facilities for new and growing companies to thrive. The development of additional business incubation facilities could help in the following ways as they provide:
· An entrepreneurial and learning environment
· Ready access to mentors and investors
· Visibility in the marketplace
We would like to encourage new creative industries into Colchester whatever your size and make up. If you would like further information please call 01206 282917.
