The Communications and Digital Committee is launching an inquiry
into the future of the UK’s creative industries. The Committee
invites written contributions by 2 September.
There are major changes on the horizon for the UK’s creative
industries. These are shaped by a range of national and global
trends. This inquiry will focus on the effects of new
technologies on the UK’s creative industries over the next 5-10
years, and the changes required to ensure the skills and talent
pipeline can deliver what is needed for the sector to thrive in
this fast-changing world. It will also consider the role of
innovation and organisational adaptation.
Technological development is just one of many forces driving
change in the sector, but its impacts are likely to be
particularly significant. Creative content production is likely
to be affected by new technologies such as machine learning and
artificial intelligence. Audience engagement will increasingly
make use of digital tools, while advances in immersive
experiences such as augmented or virtual reality look set to
offer new ways of developing and delivering cultural content,
from performances to paintings. Some business models are likely
to change as new forms of consumer engagement and content
distribution emerge.
As new trends develop there will be positives and negatives,
opportunities and risks. They are likely to affect large
institutions, small and medium-sized organisations, as well as
the freelancers that constitute a major part of the creative
industries workforce. They will put further pressure on the need
for a system that delivers the right skillsets and talent
pipeline for the jobs of the future.
As the creative industries face new challenges over the next 5–10
years, policymakers and industry will need to ensure the right
frameworks are in place for education, innovation and
organisational adaptation to take advantage of the changes ahead.
Chair's Comment
, Chair of the
Committee, said
“The UK is recognised as a global leader in the creative economy.
The sector is a key driver of our economic growth, and delivers
huge value to us as a nation. But there are major changes coming.
We need to understand these challenges better, and plan ahead to
ensure the UK has the talent and skills pipeline we need for the
creative sector to thrive in the future marketplace."
Questions
1. Which areas of the creative industries face the greatest
potential for disruption and change in the next 5–10 years, and
what impact could this have?
a) What changes are expected in the way creative/cultural content
is produced; the way audiences are engaged (for example through
digital or immersive experiences); and the way business models
operate?
2. What skills will be required to meet these emerging
opportunities and challenges?
3. What actions are needed from the Government and local
authorities to ensure there is an appropriate talent pipeline
equipped with these skills?
a) How can this be sufficiently flexible to take account of the
pace of change in the sector?
4, What actions are needed from industry to support the talent
pipeline development?
a) What actions are needed from organisations in the creative
industries to prepare for and accommodate the requirements of the
future workforce?
5. What role do innovation and research & development play in
addressing the challenges facing the creative industries?
a) What actions are needed from the Government, funding bodies
and sector organisations to support innovation, and research
& development?
6. How effective are the Government’s existing strategies
at supporting the creative industries to meet the challenges and
opportunities ahead?
7. What lessons can the UK’s creative industries learn from
other countries, and other sectors?
Timeline
The Committee invites written contributions to its inquiry by
Friday 2 September 2022.
