💡 Creative Briefing #71
News, research, case studies & opportunities for the UK creative sector
Hello,
We often talk about the huge economic value of the UK’s creative industries (£124 billion a year - or 5.7% of the UK's total GVA, at last count), but less about the other benefits they bring to society.
Uniquely among industrial sectors, the UK creative ecosystem’s impact extends far beyond the fiscal.
Take publishing. The industry generates £6.5 billion in exports annually, but British books are also a major contributor to UK tourism and soft power, as a new report from the Publishers Association highlights.
When ITV won a Special Award at the BAFTAS last weekend for commissioning Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, we were reminded how culture can be an engine for empathy, and a catalyst for real-world change.
Meanwhile, Creativity and Wellbeing Week, which starts next Monday, shines a light on creative engagement’s role in improving the nation’s health, from reducing loneliness to improving dementia care and supporting recovery from trauma or illness.
We’d love to hear your examples of the sector’s social and cultural impact - please do add them in the comments box (click through to Substack if you’re reading this in your inbox).
Creative industries news
The UK video game market has doubled in size since 2013, with consumer spending reaching £7.6 billion in 2024, UKIE reports.
The UK is now the world’s leading exporter of unscripted television formats, according to research from K7 Media.
Boston Consulting Group has identified four 'megatrends' which are reshaping the UK’s creative and entertainment landscape: changing consumption, AI, overseas competition and skills shortages.
The cross-party Culture, Media and Sport Committee has published a wide-ranging report exploring the opportunities and challenges faced by the UK's world-class film and high-end television industry, including global competitors, changing revenue models, increased costs, AI and the training and retention of a skilled workforce.
🔍Exploring arts engagement across England
New research from the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre shows that engagement in the arts and culture has risen across England, but there are widening inequalities across class, ethnicity and different regions of the country.
The report is accompanied by a data dashboard, which can be used to examine trends in arts and culture participation and engagement across different local authorities in England.
👾 CreaTech news 👾
The National Film and Television School (NFTS) has launched the first AI-focused training programme for film and television professionals.
London-based footwear brand Vivobarefoot has launched the world’s first fully bespoke barefoot sandal, created using the company’s proprietary 3D scanning and printing technology at its concept stores in Bristol, London and Prague.
Almost £1.2 million has been allocated to artist-led projects in the first round of Immersive Arts funding - a scheme supporting artists of all backgrounds and experience to work with immersive technologies.
A VR experience starring Star Wars’ Daisy Ridley as Bertha Benz, who embarked on the world’s first road trip by car in 1888, is among the work showcased at the UK Pavilion at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, which will play host to a packed programme of talks, screenings and advice sessions.
🌍 Creative sector climate action 🌍
Glass artist Allister Malcolm and jeweller and metalworker Rachael Colley joined this Zoom masterclass exploring how makers can enhance sustainability in their craft practice, hosted by QEST and Heritage Crafts.
🚄 Sam Ryder is among the artists backing a campaign to encourage festival goers to take the train to Glastonbury, while Massive Attack have also pledged to travel by rail to their sole UK arena gig this year at Manchester’s Co-op Live venue.
🚲 Musician Sarah Small has gone one step further, strapping her viola da gamba to her bicycle to cycle 2,500 miles around the UK during her summer tour. She’ll be playing at 26 venues around the UK from Shetland to rural mid-Wales, while raising awareness of the environmental impact of musicians on tour.
☀️ The Bottle Yard Studios’ TBY2 facility in Bristol is among the highest-scoring film and TV studios for sustainability, according to BAFTA Albert’s 2025/26 Studio Sustainability Standard Report. It's among three of 31 studios rated ‘outstanding’ for its sustainability measures, which include the largest community-owned rooftop PV installation in the UK.
Opportunities
Making Tax Digital. HMRC is inviting self-employed sole traders in the creative industries to get ahead by joining a testing programme for Making Tax Digital (MTD). From April 2026, sole traders earning more than £50,000 per year will need to keep digital records, use MTD-compatible software and submit quarterly summaries of their income and expenses to HMRC.
Collect Open 2026. The Crafts Council is offering three bursaries to support UK-based makers from global majority backgrounds who are in financial need. Apply by 22 June.
QEST and Heritage Crafts Sustainability Award. Craftspeople across the UK who have taken significant steps to reduce their environmental impact and improve the sustainability of their craft practices can apply for a chance to win a £1,000 prize. Apply by 1 July.
The Content Fund. The UK Games Fund is accepting expressions of interest from UK games studios which would like to apply for grants of £50,000 to £150,000 to develop commercial games with an entertainment focus. Funded until 31 March 2026, but may close early if demand is high.
For a full list of funding and development opportunities, visit our opportunities page.
Events
15 - 18 May - Photo London: Photographers and galleries from around the world will take part in a special tenth anniversary edition of the fair, which includes exhibitions and a programme of talks.
21 May - Next steps for the UK video games industry: Westminster Forum hosts this online conference with speakers from Ubisoft, UK Games Fund, KPMG and more.
22 May - Navigating AI Solutions - How to Choose the Right Fit for Your Business: free online talk hosted by the Alan Turing Institute as part of Innovate UK’s BridgeAI programme.
Throughout May - UKIE’s Month of Insight into Games: a series of curated webinars aiming to equip businesses with insights on industry challenges.
For more events, visit our 2025 calendar for the UK creative industries.
Until next time,
Rachel Wareing (Newsletter Editor) &
Carlos Grande (Editor, thecreativeindustries.co.uk)