Creative UK to host UK General Election Hustings on Cultural and Creative Industries

Creative UK to host UK General Election Hustings on Cultural and Creative Industries. Representatives from five political parties, including Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Green Party and Reform UK to debate key issues facing sector 

On Thursday 20th June 2024, Creative UK – the national membership body for the Cultural and Creative Industries – will host a UK General Election Hustings, in which representatives from five political parties will answer questions on key issues facing the sector.

Do you want to be in the (virtual) room where it happens? Join fellow creative leaders and visionaries in driving change with our Federation Membership: federation.wearecreative.uk, helping us to cultivate a world where creativity is championed, valued, and nurtured.

If you’re already a member, please check your emails for the invite. Please contact membership@wearecreative.uk with any queries.

The event, which is being held online ahead of the UK General Election on Thursday 4th July 2024, will be attended by Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC (Conservative, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport); Sir Chris Bryant (Labour, Shadow Minister for Creative Industries & Digital); Rt Hon Lord Tim Clement-Jones CBE FRSA (Liberal Democrats, Lords spokesperson for Science, Innovation & Technology); Cllr Jack Lenox (Green Party, Culture, Sport & Digital Inclusion spokesperson) and Dr David Bull (invited; Reform UK deputy leader). 

The hustings will be hosted by Creative UK’s Director of Policy, Lara Carmona, and will be chaired by Caroline Norbury OBE, Chief Executive of Creative UK Questions will be sourced from the organisation’s wide-reaching membership across the cultural and creative industries. 

UPDATE (19/06/24): the General Election Hustings will now be chaired by Sir Peter Bazalgette, Creative UK Board Member and co-Chair of the Creative Industries Council.

Commenting on the event, Caroline said:

This Hustings is a unique opportunity for party representatives to lay out in detail how – if elected – they plan to put our world-leading Cultural and Creative Industries at the center of industrial policy and as a public force for good.

Creative UK’s membership spans everyone from publicly funded arts organisations to tech start-ups. We represent the breadth of a varied, innovation-fueled sector which is driving growth in our economy and creating the jobs and meaningful work of tomorrow. But the sector is also facing some very real issues – from outdated funding models which are no longer fit for purpose, to how we protect IP in the age of AI, to an urgent need to invest more in creative education, skills and R&D.

In just a matter of weeks, we’ll have a new UK Government. It’s vital that whoever that is fully understands the creative economy – and how to unlock it – by prioritising some of the real solutions we know are possible.

In April 2022, Creative UK launched our UK General Election manifesto calling for ‘radical new action’ for Cultural and Creative Industries, with insight from leading organisations. Download the full manifesto today at manifesto.wearecreative.uk.

Join us for live updates across our socials at x.com/WeAreCreativeUK on Thursday 20th June 2024.

Sign up to the Creative UK Collective for FREE to keep up to date, including an on-demand video version following the event.

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