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The creative industry ecology is one of whales and plankton: a handful of high-profile global players, stars and multinational companies, dependent upon vast shoals of project-based micro-enterprises.
In the popular view of the creative industries, only the bigger players are visible, but economic and cultural growth depends on the whole system. Even the smallest players need a sophisticated mix of technical inventiveness, artistic creativity and business entrepreneurship. These micro-firms are dependent on fast changing invisible assets and they operate in global niche markets. They evolve by getting better rather than by getting bigger and are rewarded by lifestyle and reputation as much as by money. A good deal of their critical infrastructure is external to the firm. This is not a profile of business that is widely recognised by banks, investors or government.
How are entrepreneurs in the creative industries best supported? Creative Clusters will ask some of the UKs most experienced practitioners to illustrate which kind of support programmes work and which do not. Is media entrepreneurship really any different from that in other sectors? Is cluster growth best pursued by fine-tuned support programmes for the local small fry, or should regeneration resources be devoted to inward investment programmes targeted at the international big fish?
See also:
Creative Industries Old Economy or New?
Regions and the role of the capital
What are creative clusters?
Culture or industry?
Globalisation: opportunity or threat?
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