From Thailand to Arizona

November 9, 2009
By Jay Corless

Today’s important news on the development of the creative industries and the creative economy spans from Thailand to Arizona.

First off in the UK, a goverment report finds that Kate Winslet’s economic pop culture value is £60m.  The British government is seeking ways to understand the value that its largest creative names and faces contribute to their economy.

In Thailand the government has launched a fund to the tune of 20 billion baht to  support the growth and investment in local creative industries.  They are seeking to invest in ideas and projects that leverage copyright and patents.

While in Arizona the Metro Phoenix DNA initiative is launching a series of communication campaigns to highlight the local cultural and creative assets of the Phoenix metro area.  Our research points to great potential for the Phoenix area and we wish them well.

Headlines, summaries and links below:

Kate Winslet’s wow factor is worth £60m to the British economy (The Times Online, UK)
“THE Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet is a £60m national treasure, according to an analysis of her value to Britain by economists funded by the government. …The economic value of popular culture will make headlines at the end of this month when a group assembled by Jeremy Hunt, the shadow culture secretary, recommends ways to rekindle the spirit of creative fever once known as cool Britannia” Read More

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Tell the world our story (Arizona Central, US)
“In a Forbes survey of approximately 1,000 corporate executives, a strong and vibrant creative community was among the top-five determinants of location decisions for 74 percent of respondents. … Branding a region is not branding a car – regions are complex, multidimensional and have multiple stakeholders. Therefore the Metro Phoenix DNA Initiative is developing a series of communications strategies and programs that will serve as “proof points” of the Opportunity Oasis.” Read More

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Fund backs creative economy (Bangkok Post, Thailand)
“…The government has allocated 20 billion baht to support “creative economy” ventures with the aim of developing creativity, innovation, craftsmanship and design within the economy. Funding will be allocated from the 1.43-trillion-baht Thai Khem Kaeng infrastructure investment programme. The Thailand Creative Fund will invest in companies that rely on intellectual property assets in their business operations, production and services, with the goal of supporting their future growth, productivity and competitiveness, said Pichit Akrathit, the president of MFC Asset Management.” Read More

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Cities and the Creative Industries

A Creative Industry Primer

The creative economy movement started in the UK in 1994. Follow the links to understand how national cultural policy became creative industry policy and how it's now changing the world.