The Minister met with a number of successful businesses that have received funding from the Creative Industries Innovation Fund, administered by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
The Creative Industries, which include innovation in the areas of film, craft, digital media and publishing, currently employ over 33,000 people in Northern Ireland and generate £582million annually.
Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council, said: “We are delighted the Minister has been able to join us today to witness first-hand the success of our Creative Industries funded clients.
“Investment in our creative industries and in the export of the wide range of cultural products – film, TV, music, crafts, fashion and much more – is generating high economic returns. With the decline of many of our traditional industries the source of our wealth, job creation and economic competitiveness is shifting to our burgeoning creative sector.”
Following the Executive’s recent draft budget announcement, the Arts Council urged the Minister to consider the impact that a reduction in the arts budget would have upon the sector.
Roisin McDonough continued: “There is a growing recognition that art, design and creativity, far from being peripheral to commerce, can make a decisive contribution to economic growth and regeneration. However, in order for the Creative Industries to continue to grow in line with the rest of the UK, we would urge the Executive to carry on supporting this valuable sector.”
Speaking after the visit Finance Minister Sammy Wilson said: “Northern Ireland has a wealth of creative talent and the Executive recognises the significant positive impact that the field of Arts and Culturehas had on our local creative industries and our economy.
“This has contributed to our growing reputation at home and abroad and we believe that Northern Ireland possesses significant potential for future growth in the creative industries.
“The Executive is committed to doing all that it can to ensure that creative industries continue to play a major part in Northern Ireland's future economic growth.”
Belfast based Score Draw Music is one of the small businesses to have recently received seed funding from the Arts Council’s Creative Industries Innovation Fund. The company, which started in 2004 provides music for film and television, with a client list which includes Adidas, Reebok, Lidl and Save the Children.
Meeting with the Minister today, Mark Gordon of Score Draw Music explained the difference the investment has made to his business. He said: “The CIIF funding Score Draw Music received proved invaluable in terms of the company's business development. It allowed us to modernise our equipment, re-energise and expand our on-line and marketing presence and create employment opportunities.”
The Minister also met with other CIIF funded enterprises – goldsmith Garvan Traynor whose work has been commissioned for film productions including City of Ember and Closing the Ring; Liam McGarry from Wee Man Studios who design video games and apps; and Stuart Baillie from the Oh Yeah Centre in Belfast which houses studios and rehearsal spaces for local musicians. Each of the businesses spoke with the Minister and explained how the investment had enabled them to significantly enhance their businesses offering.
For more information about the Creative Industries Innovation Fund, visit www.artscouncil-ni.org.
Creative Industries inject £582 million into NI economy
Arts Council of Northern Ireland,
05 January 2011, Northern Ireland