The emphasis on this report was econonomic outputs from the Objective 1 investment…..not the discussion above about education BUT (I need hardlly say)  the economic argument has a resonance with the current government.  And lets face it this is where future jobs are coming from – creative young people.  So if Anna is going up to represent this to ministers then I suggest this report is in their bag.

Here are some of the headline findings:

2. Headline figures • In total almost £43m was invested in the Creative Industries in Cornwall under Objective One
• Turnover in the sector grew from £326m to £421m between 2000 and 2004 – 29% growth (ABI statistics)• Approximately 350 ben eficiary companies and between 2,400 to 2,500individuals benefited directly from the sector support programmes• Employment in the sector grew by approximately 19% between 2000 and 2004, with an estimated 10,200 now employed in the Creative Industries in Cornwall including freelancers and sole traders. This compares with a national growth rate of 3% for the sector for the same period• The cost of creating a job in the sector through the Objective One programme was £23,864 of EU funding.  This is in line with programme targets for cost per job creation as laid out in the Programme Complement in 2005 • Between 2000 and 2004 approximately 560 jobs were created in the sector • According to Annual Business Inquiry (ABI) statistics, Gross Value Added(GVA) in the sector increased by 34% between 2000 and 2004. The national figure according to Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) estimates was 7% for the same period
• £33m was invested in capital projects – including nearly £30m to the Tremough Campus for University College Falmouth• £9.88m was invested in business and skills support programmes to develop the sector• £9.88million investment of EU funds into the support structure stimulated the sector to generate an estimated £104m extra income• GVA per head for the sector in Cornwall is £28,540 

In Exeter the group did reflect on how this could work in a rural area with all the issues around transport – maybe it is a question of looking at what resources there are and using them in a better and more creative way.

There was also a lot of talk about how ideally projects with young people should be on a long term basis so that there is time for them to evolve and for young people to really shape direction and outcomes and also to build up trust. Where this is not possible the teachers or youth workers need to feel able to run with the work and continue to support the young people. Sometimes if the booking is for a week’s work it may be better to have 5 days input but over a longer period.

A
county councillor at the meeting reminded people that if they want to influence school policy the best way is through becoming a school govenor. Also in Devon, at least, each councillor does have some funding for community projects/activity.

Finally someone described how his son had attended a sculpture workshop at school and came home buzzing from this ” This was the first time my son had ever talked about what he did at school.”

That sounds like a fascinating meeting to have been at. And what were some of your conclusions? How are your answers going to be delivered and shared? Who is prepared to put themselves out there?

In thinking about this topic, I am struck that I don’t know who or what organisation is representing this viewpoint to government. Is there anyone? If there is, what status do we have to ask them what they are doing and how they are doing it, as it is clearly not working?

I think we know the answer to your last question already. I have seen it happening in many schools and have spoken at length about it with visionary Head Teachers who are hamstrung by the very narrow view that we are being told will save the future. I don’t think I am being dramatic when I say the future of this country is at stake. We have a very plausible and practical solution and the processes and practices by which that solution is implementable. Who do we talk to and if there is a strategy, how do we get involved?

The question we need to be asking ourselves is what are we in this sector not doing right regarding lobbying government on the creative agenda? It seems that none of these issues are being taken seriously by those in the seats of power. Considering to our minds the evidence is all there and plain to see, therefore there must be a breakdown in how this information is being shown to the decision makers.

Who are his advisors on these policies? Who are the people we need to influence who will influence him? What is the most compelling, quantifiable evidence that can demonstrate what we are talking about in the most succinct way?

We are clearly dealing with a government that are deeply deeply conservative in all ways. Somehow we need to be able to share this evidence and the information we know in our bones to be right with them in their conservative way.

We may all agree that Arts, Creativity and culture is a Democratic right. Anyone who knows me knows that I believe that to the foundation of my being. But that doesn’t make any kind of difference long term if we don’t have a structure that can support it. I think we spend a little too much time complaining and wingeing about our position and being done to and not enough time strategically planning how we can inform those who are making the decisions. Sending Article 31 of the UN Convention for the Rights of the Child to Mr Gove and friends to reflect on and just being explicit about the benefits isn’t going to make an ounce of difference. We need to be cleverer than that.