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Creative Advantage Fund and Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research

Symposium

Full STEAM Ahead?

The Creative Economy and Higher Education

Parkside Lecture Theatre

Birmingham City University

Parkside

B4 7BD

7.00 pm Wednesday 13^th July

Drinks from 6.30 pm.

Register at Eventbrite here or mail: [log in to unmask]

What are relations like between the creative economy and universities in the Midlands? What expectations do businesses, creatives, educators and students have of each other for innovation, work and reward in exchanges between them and their collaborations? What are the opportunities or impediments for exchange and for sustaining and growing the creative sector? 

This symposium brings together a range of individuals representing experience in the creative sector and HE to discuss some of these questions in light of current issues and challenges for the economy, society and culture of the Midlands.

Discussants include: Thomas Dillon (CAF); Professor David Roberts (Pro Vice Chancellor Executive Dean of Art, Design and Media); Rebbecca Hemmings (Strawberry Words); Suriya Roberts-Grey (cultural entrepreneur); Matt Davidson (CAF Prizewinner); Amahra Spence (founder of MAIA Creatives); Simon Morris (Barefaced Media). Chair: Professor Paul Long, BCMCR.

This event is supported by the Creative Advantage Fund (CAF).

The founding of CAF in 2000 was the first step in the UK’s experiment with venture capital as a funding mechanism for cultural production, reflecting a new approach in government to what became known as the “creative industries”, defined as “those industries which have their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent and which have a potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property” (DCMS, 1998). Despite success stories, the conditions under which policy goals can be achieved through the interaction of cultural practitioners and commercially-oriented finance remain uncertain.

The event will also see the announcement of the winner of the 2016 CAF-BCU Prize.  

The CAF-BCU Prize of £500 is awarded for the best dissertation on the creative industries submitted for degree purposes by a student at BCU.