ALCS welcomes Creative Industries Sector Plan
The Government has just announced its Creative Industries Sector Plan, which includes, along with an additional £380m invested in the creative industries in the next 10 years, a number of provisions that ALCS has campaigned for that have the potential to benefit creators and the wider sector.
The Creative Industries Sector Plan is part of its broader Industrial Strategy and sets out a framework for the development of the sector over the next ten years. Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, said: “We will build on strong foundations of world-renowned education providers, a robust copyright regime, and a vibrant ecosystem of talent, infrastructure, and ideas.”
We are delighted that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced it will appoint a ‘Creative Freelance Champion’, akin to the Freelancer Commissioner proposal that we have been an active and vocal proponent of.
We have long made the case that the concerns of freelance creatives, which make up around 30% of the creative workforce, had not been adequately considered in policy making for the creative industries, despite their contributions being essential to the success of the sector. A dedicated champion of freelancers is needed to address deep-rooted issues facing self-employed writers.
We know that freelance creators need access to support that reflects their working reality, tax and benefit rules that take into account the frequent complexity of their careers and more tailored skills and developmental policies. We hope that a ‘Creative Freelance Champion’ will be effective in championing the UK’s creative workforce and influencing policy making so that the UK’s incredible creators are respected and supported.
We look forward to supporting the establishment of this champion and working with Government to improve the situation of UK writers.
It is also welcome to see the Government comments about ensuring a copyright regime that protects human creativity and supports rightsholders in licensing their work, however these words need to be matched by positive action. The Government recently refused to implement an amendment requiring transparency in the use of copyrighted works by AI companies, so we wait to see how this will be delivered. We maintain that real transparency is an essential first step towards any long-term solution.
The response from the creative industries to the consultation was loud and clear, and the solution is obvious: ensure transparency measures that will let creators seek fair remuneration where their works have been used without their knowledge or consent.
ALCS CEO, Barbara Hayes said:
“There are some really positive elements to this report, investment in the Creative Industries is crucial, and a recognition of creators contributions to the economy is encouraging to see. We’re delighted by the announcement of a Freelance Champion, an important issue that we have actively campaigned for. But there is more to be done, and ALCS will continue to engage constructively with the Government and with our partners in the creative industries to ensure that creators are protected and supported. We remain committed to championing the rights of authors and ensuring that the value of their work is both recognised and rewarded in the digital age.”
You can learn more about our campaigning work here.
