Creative Industries News #3 📰 - Week 1

So, here we are in 2023! We're hoping it will be a successful year for the Creative Industries, with lots of initiatives and strategies being kickstarted.

What are the headlines then? Lets see...

1) The incredible studios behind Harry Potter & House Of The Dragon are expanding

A plan that was introduced by Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden has been approved by the Three Rivers District Council.

The blueprint includes 11 new permanent sound stages, four office buildings and three new workshops.

The good news for motivated creatives is that the development will be creating 1625 full time "high wage, high skill" jobs in the Watford area and adding £85.7m to the local economy by 2027, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Check out more on this story here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyxez35e11vo

2) Will Audio Drama be the next big thing?

BBC Radio 4 has brought about a first-of-its-kind adaptation, by bringing the game series 'Splinter Cell' to audio, in the form of an eight part dramatisation.

Radio 1 film critic Ali Plumb states that; 'with so much competition for audiences these days it's no surprise that commissioners are giving the green-light to projects with a "built-in audience"'.

Actor Andonis Anthony, who plays main character Sam in the Radio 4 drama, shared that bringing the gaming revolution to audio drama makes 'perfect sense'. He argues that with more people turning to "non-music audio", it's a good time for BBC radio to tell stories that offer a "cinematic experience".

"Given the rise in podcasts, and audiobooks being so popular - more and more people are getting used to listening to audio as a story experience. Everyone's going out and about with their air pods on these days and listening in a different way to before."

Find out more on this interesting development here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63874745

3) VR is quickly building its way into consumer fashion culture

The digital fashion landscape is moving at a ridiculous pace, with opportunities and new technology popping up in every corner. But, the fashion industry has it's eyes on a small group of players who are doing things differently.

'Xydrobe', based in London is working on defining itself as the 'future of fashion'. Pronounced ‘zai-drobe', the company states it is ‘a physical destination and experience that will enhance your experience of luxury fashion’. With both physical and digital entities, the company is appealing to luxury consumers who want the best of both worlds experience.

If you want to hear more about this story, read it here - https://www.wallpaper.com/fashion-beauty/will-vr-platform-xydrobe-change-the-way-you-shop-fashion

4) Welsh screen sector generating big economy profits

According to the BBC, the TV and film industry has generated £155.6m of production spend into the Welsh economy since 2020. In 2021, the Welsh screen sector also saw a turnover of £575 million, which was a 36% increase from the year before.

Over the last two years, the Welsh government's creative agency (Creative Wales) has received over 900 production enquiries to film in Wales, and further reported £14.2m of production funding since it opened in January 2020.

Funding boosts and investment in local filmmaking means that there is more support in development of talent and ideas, inclusive of Welsh Language film.

Hear more about this great news here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64100916

5) Significant increases in artist-led spaces across the world

Artist-led spaces are nothing new in the creative sectors, however, recently it has been seen that the landscapes of residencies and institutes founded by artists are sprouting worldwide at a fast rate. These new spaces are primarily led by artists who have had their time in the limelight in the art world, have had financial gains and now want to share their experience with the younger generation of creatives.

Hear more about residencies and institutes opening up throughout the world here - https://news.artnet.com/art-world/artist-led-spaces-are-proliferating-around-the-world-filling-a-gap-caused-by-dwindling-public-funding-and-market-pressures-2232925