Home > News > February 2008 > 05 February 2008

Skills council chief welcomes investment in Leadership

Tom Bewick, chief executive of Creative & Cultural Skills, has welcomed the Arts Council England's announcement to extend the Cultural Leadership Programme with three years of funding amounting to £10 million.

"This is a real tribute to the Arts Council's farsighted view that investment in the management and leadership of the cultural sector is absolutely necessary if we are going to realise our ambitions to make the UK the world's creative hub," said Tom Bewick.

"The close involvement of Creative & Cultural Skills is also ensuring the programme is properly joined up with the wider workforce development priorities of employers in the sector. This will be demonstrated in the forthcoming publication of the council's Sector Skills Agreement - the Creative Blueprint.

"Following a £2.5 million investment from the Programme in 2006-08, Creative & Cultural Skills is launching a pioneering new web portal - Creative Choices° on April 22nd in Liverpool. This comprehensive resource will enable learners and leaders at all stages of their career to access relevant and timely advice about opportunities in the sector.

"Creative Choices° is the first online service to provide the tools, knowledge and networks to support every individual and business to get in, and get on, in the creative industries and cultural sector."

Creative & Cultural Skills - the Sector Skills Council for advertising, crafts, cultural heritage, design, music, performing, literary and visual arts - has formed a delivery partnership with the Arts Council England and the Museums Libraries and Archives Council to oversee strategic development and make investment decisions about where the funding will deliver most impact.

Cultural Leadership Programme chairman, David Kershaw, chief executive of M&C Saatchi and a trustee of Creative and Cultural Skills, said: "We are absolutely delighted with this announcement. It is great news for cultural and creative industries across the board.

"The Prime Minister showed great foresight in 2006 when he invested in the leadership of one of the fastest growing sectors of the UK economy. This investment is now reaping great rewards with opportunities for leaders at all stages of their careers.

"It is also a great testament to the contribution of the CLP in the first two years and we are determined to capitalise on the opportunities that this further provision affords."

Virginia Tandy, director of Manchester City Galleries, commented: "The news of this investment will be welcomed by the cultural and creative industries. The CLP is providing practical and valuable support in meeting the leadership challenges faced by our sector, and has highlighted the importance of strong cultural leadership in terms of both its creative and economic impact. This additional funding means that its ambitious programme of interventions can continue to affect much-needed change within the industry."

External link

Cultural Leadership Programme

Related Information

For related news, case studies, articles and research, visit our management and leadership development home page

Training and development books

Discover books on a variety of training and development topics at the Training Reference Bookshop

Source suppliers

Visit the Training Reference Directory to view supplier details for a wide range of courses, products and services.

Sponsored links

Back to top