Innovation UK > News > Innovation UK Vol4-1 > Belfast - city of creativity and innovation

The creative industries are growing at more than twice the rate of the economy as a whole and given this growth potential in terms of revenue, jobs and impact on quality of life, they are fundamental to regional, local and economic development.

Belfast City Council is committed to the support and development of the creative industries and the impact they can have on Belfast both economically and socially. As a result, we have developed a creative industries plan to implement the priority action areas of Economy, Talent and Space, as identified in the Council?s Local Economic Development Plan, ?Staying Competitive?. The key themes of the creative industries plan are summarised as follows: Creative Economy ? projects under this theme concentrate on bespoke business development initiatives aimed at creating wealth for SMEs in the creative sector through product development, collaboration, research and export.

Creative Talent ? projects under this theme address the skill rquirements of existing businesses and also provide new entrants and start-up companies with the necessary skills to set up their own business or to gain employment. Creative Space ? this theme addresses the need for incubation space in the City for creative companies and provides space for companies to come together to network, share ideas and develop new partnerships.

The key benefit for Belfast from an expanding and developing creative industries sector is clearly an economic one. By playing a key role in the strategic support and development of Belfast-based creative industries, local companies, providing jobs and spreading new wealth around the City, will establish a stronger economic base for the entire City?s people.

Belfast?s greatest assets are its people, their skills and their imagination. By working to support and develop the creativity of our businesses and people, so the attractiveness and success of the City will be greatly enhanced.

?The creative industries are those industries that are based on individual creativity, skill and talent. They are also those that have the potential to create wealth and jobs through developing intellectual property?

KEY SECTORS

• Film, Television, Digital Media, Music and Design.

KEY FACTS & FIGURES

• Over 1,000 creative industries businesses based in Belfast.
• 55% of creative industries businesses in Northern Ireland are based in Belfast.
• 35% of creative enterprises in Belfast work in the design-related field.
• 61% of creative enterprises in Belfast work in the media-related field.
• Average of 16,000 people employed in the creative sector (full-time, part-time & freelancers).
• 68% of the Belfast companies are micro? businesses with less than 10 employees.
• 10% of Belfast businesses have more than 50 employees.
• 97% of jobs are full-time.
• 40% of Belfast companies have increased employee numbers over the last 12 months.
• 59% of Belfast companies have increased their turnover over the last 12 months.

KEY PROJECTS

• Dare to be Digital (www.daretobedigital.com)
• Creative Entrepreneurs Club (www.cecni.org)
• South by Southwest (www.sxsw.com)

DID YOU KNOW

• Julie Walters, Christopher Eccleston, Billy Connolly, Tim Robbins, Julie Christie, Donald Sutherland, Shirley MacLaine, Bill Murray and Gillian Anderson have all starred in films made in Belfast.
• A new version of Sesame Street, called ?Sesame Tree? was made in Belfast in 2007.
• The revamped ?EMU? television series was also made in Belfast in 2007.
• ?The Paint Hall? in the historically renowned Titanic Quarter of Belfast, where the component parts of ships were once painted, was used by Walden Media & Playtone
• Productions for the children?s blockbuster sci-fi adventure film ?City of Ember?.
• The ?City of Ember? was produced by Tom Hanks.
• Dermot O?Leary is the patron for the Cinemagic International film festival for young people, based in Belfast.
• Google and DTS (Digital Theatre Sound) have offices based in Belfast.
• Belfast DJ David Holmes produced the soundtracks for the ?Ocean?s 11? trilogy starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

For further information on Belfast City Council?s
creative industries strategy, please contact:
Brendan McGoran
Creative Industries Officer
Belfast City Council
Cecil Ward Building
4-10 Linenhall Street
Belfast BT2 8BP
Tel: 02890 270453
E-mail:
Website: www.belfastcity.gov.uk