++++ Conference Programme +++++

The draft Creative Clusters Programme is now available athttp://www.creativeclusters.co.uk, and we are very excited by it indeed.

In our initial call for presentations, we asked for projects showing howartistic, entrepreneurial and technological creativity could be simultaneouslymobilised. The result is a rich and fascinating conference.

Among the big names on the programme are the Digital Content Forum, RoyalShakespeare Company, UK Business Incubation Association, Amsterdam'sWestergasfabriek, the Financial Times, Queen's University Belfast, JohannesbergCultural Quarter, Lewisham Borough Council, Channel 4, Trade Partners UK,Yorkshire Forward, Northcliffe Electronic Publishing, the Arts Council, Comedia,Wired Sussex, the Council of Europe, South West Screen, Huddersfield MediaCentre, London School of Economics, Business Link and Vienna's MuseumQuarter.They will be joined by a host of smaller businesses, individual researchers andconsultants.

Creative Clusters is designed for people working at the intersection ofregeneration, arts and commerce. While they come from a very wide range oforganisations, in terms of their shared expertise, this is fast becoming ahighly distinctive and specialised professional grouping. The programme reflectsboth their shared needs, and the diverse ecology in which they work.

There will be case-study presentations by international experts on every keyaspect of creative industry development, as well as a strand of 'big theme'policy discussions: on creative entrepreneurship, cultural diversity, onregional development and the future of broadband. The conference is hosted bySheffield Cultural Industries Quarter, and there will be in-depth guided visitsto all its ground-breaking projects.

Creative Clusters will be truly international too, with speakers fromAustralia, Austria, Canada, Holland, New Zealand, South Africa,Switzerland, the UK and the USA, and delegates from as many countriesagain.

In all, Creative Clusters will be an opportunity for unparalleled networking,sharing of good practice and profile-building, both for individual projects andfor the sector in general. We are proud to have been able to put together sucha stimulating programme, and very grateful to our many colleagues for theirassistance and participation.

If you are planning to come to Creative Clusters, I urge you to book straightaway. Well over half of the tickets have now been sold, and there is sure to bea rush as we approach the end of this booking period.

For more background, further programme information, a list of delegates andreservations please go to http://www.creativeclusters.co.uk

++++ A Glitch on the Website ++++

We've been able to achieve a lot on our website in a very short time, but ithasn't all been smooth. We lost the use of the reservations page for a few dayslast week, and if you have booked and not heard back from us, then I'm verysorry but you should book again. We will make sure that no- one isdouble-booked.

++++ Focus on the Digital Content Forum ++++

'Developing the digital content sector'.

The DCF forms a two-way conduit between industry and government to gather viewsand input into policy-making processes. It goes further to broker relationships,develop shared knowledge and undertake activities to promote innovation andexcellence in the UK digital content sector.

It operates as a professionally managed network of members, to which it deliversvalue through representing their interests and views on a broader scale. Byaligning complementary activities within the sector, it promotes co-operationamongst trade associations and businesses, enabling them to fulfil their ownobjectives.

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Creative Clusters is supported by CIQ Agency, Financial Times, Sheffield Firstfor Investment, Digital Content Forum, Department of Trade and Industry, TradePartners UK, Yorkshire Forward, South Yorkshire ICT Sector Board, Department forCulture, Media and Sport, European Regional Development Fund, Council of Europe,Inspiral and Wired Workplace.

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Please spread the work about Creative Clusters by copying this email on tocolleagues and to any networks or lists you belong to. Many thanks.

Warm regards, Simon Evans, Conference Director

---Our website is at http://www.creativeclusters.co.uk