Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Creative Industries: Stoke-on-Trent

08 October 2024 · 2 other contributors · 4,803 words

Opened by Gareth Snell Labour (Co-op) Stoke-on-Trent Central

Responding minister: Chris Bryant

Culture, Media & Sport

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Gareth Snell raised concerns about creative industries: stoke-on-trent in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about structural problems in communities and the need for support for local creative freelancers to earn a viable income.
  • Highlighting the growth of the creative industries at around 6.3% and mentioning contributions from various organizations in Stoke-on-Trent.
  • Asked the Minister to visit and meet local organizations, consider recognizing north Staffordshire as a cultural cluster, and advocate for creative subjects in education.

Key requests to Government

I ask the Minister to visit and meet some of the organisations in Stoke-on-Trent to see first-hand their excellent work. Additionally, I request that he consider recognising north Staffordshire as a cultural cluster, speak to his colleagues at the Department for Business and Trade about incorporating creative industries into any future industrial strategy, and advocate for maintaining art and creative subjects on educational curriculums.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Gareth Snell Labour (Co-op) Stoke-on-Trent Central

I am concerned about the structural problems in our communities and the need for support to ensure that local creative freelancers can turn their abilities into a viable income. I highlight the growth of the creative industries at around 6.3% and mention several organisations contributing to this growth, including Appetite, B arts, Carse & Waterman, Duchess China 1888, Emma Bailey, i.creation, Junction 15, Keele University, Lesniak Swann, Made in Stoke, New Vic Theatre, Popcorn Learning Agency, Restoke, Susan Clarke, and more. I discuss the importance of collaboration among these organisations to enhance community cohesion and support local economic development.

Other contributors (2)
  • Adam Jogee Lab Newcastle-under-Lyme

    Congratulates the hon. Friend on securing the debate and acknowledges the work of the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme, inviting the Minister to visit and see the theatre's community work. Will the Minister give way and reiterate the point about the groundswell of support for a cluster in north Staffordshire, urging the Minister to visit Stoke-on-Trent Central and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Commends the hon. Gentleman for securing the debate and outlines the contribution of creative industries in Northern Ireland, highlighting a project involving local students to address illegal graffiti.

Government Response

Chris Bryant

I will start by commending my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent Central on being elected again. I am happy to visit Stoke, though it is a question of when we can make that work; I would like to combine some of the work on tech with creative industries. My hon. Friend makes a good case about creating a creative cluster, which aligns with our strategy for economic levelling up and developing creativity in various sectors such as video games and cultural heritage. The Government is working at pace to integrate the creative industries into an industrial strategy, aiming to reverse the 40% to 50% decline in students studying music, drama, and art over the past 14 years by putting these subjects back at the heart of the curriculum. I stress that a strong pipeline for young people thinking about careers in the arts is essential. A creative education multiplies educational benefits and enhances employability through skills like self-confidence, public speaking, teamwork, and technological development. The creative industries represent £125 billion value to the UK and are an enormous part of our cultural and economic future. Growth in this sector over the last 14 years has been higher than in the rest of the economy and is expected to continue growing, employing about 2 million people. I am committed to ensuring that talent from all backgrounds can access opportunities in the creative industries without barriers such as unpaid internships, fostering a cycle of creativity where different sectors feed off one another. Finally, we aim for the products of the creative industries to be accessible to everyone, inspiring and lifting communities through arts, live events, and beautiful architecture.

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