Time to act

The NSW government's Creative Industries Taskforce has unleashed a draft Action Plan to help fuel growth in key sectors, including design.

The initiative includes more than 40 recommendations to drive growth, productivity and innovation across the creative sphere.

Specific areas of focus include fine arts, music, film, animation, new media, and design.

The Industry Action Plan is expected to roll out over the next decade and is now open for public consultation, until 9am April 2, 2013.

Commenting on its release, deputy premier and minister for trade and investment Andrew Stoner said the state’s creative industries will be an important driver of the NSW economy.

“NSW is already Australia’s creative industries capital, with approximately 148,000 people in the state directly employed across a variety of disciplines including film and television, advertising, fashion, design, electronic gaming, publishing and the performing arts,” he said.

“In particular, Sydney and NSW are primed for growth in the expanding global digital economy, with the convergence of creative industries and ICT bringing together our leading strengths in fine arts, music, film, animation, new media, and design.

“We need to build on the significant cultural and social contribution made by the creative industries in Sydney and NSW to realise the full potential of the economic benefits we can derive from this sector.”

Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) CEO and chair of the Creative Industries Taskforce Dan Rosen added that public feedback will be essential to inform the Taskforce’s final report.

“We need to do more to promote the importance of creative industries to the growth and competitiveness of the state’s wider economy in addition to their positive social and cultural impact,” he said.

“We also need to better leverage Sydney’s global status with a dedicated creative brand to elevate, through Sydney, the state’s profile as a global centre and Asian Pacific leader in the creative industries.”

While the Taskforce’s draft Industry Action Plan recommends a range of industry and government actions to strengthen the state’s creative industries, it is based around five key themes:

• Sustained NSW government leadership through continued engagement with the industries and recognition of the sector’s dynamism and impact;

• A dedicated brand and communication strategy to elevate the industries’ achievements and profile;

• Improving investment and business development outcomes through better access to information, partnerships, and initiatives to drive research and innovation;

• Maximising the benefits of existing and emerging infrastructure;

• Positioning education and training to attract, develop and retain talent and to align more closely with industry needs.

Submissions and comments can also be sent directly to the Taskforce secretariat via creative.iap@business.nsw.gov.au.