Investigating and analyzing the factors shaping England's rural artistic micro-communities
In the wake of the UK's departure from the EU, British firms in the Creative Industries have faced challenges in trading and collaborating with European counterparts. However, a new focus on domestic growth has brought attention to the potential of England's rural creative microclusters.
These microclusters, like Felton Gallery 45 in Northumberland, are hubs for creative businesses and artists. They are not isolated pockets, but often form clusters, with around a third of all rural creative firms operating within a cluster. The presence of anchor institutions like museums or galleries can support this clustering, a factor that should be considered in relation to levelling-up policies.
New research, led by the University of Sussex and funded by the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE), has shed light on the determinants of these rural creative microclusters. The study found that being close to a university supports the emergence of rural creative clusters. Being co-located in these clusters can lead to 'external economies of scale', making businesses more productive.
Policy interventions that could support the formation of informal networks in these rural creative microclusters include providing targeted grants, innovation mentoring, and business support schemes aimed at small and micro enterprises in the creative sector. For instance, the UK’s DCMS Create Growth Programme offers funding between £10,000 and £30,000 to creative micro and small businesses in specific English regions, along with mentorship to help with bid writing and innovation development, which encourages networking and collaboration among creative entrepreneurs in rural areas.
Grants that support infrastructure for creative activities, such as rehearsal spaces, festivals, promoters, and venues, can serve as physical hubs where informal networks form and knowledge spillovers occur. The Suffolk UK Shared Prosperity Fund’s grants of £5,000 to £10,000 to SMEs aim to boost productivity and innovation, which often relies on informal connections and collaboration within clusters to spread ideas and practices.
Informal networks in rural microclusters facilitate knowledge spillovers, trust-building, and collective innovation, which are essential drivers of creative sector growth. These networks enhance local economic dynamism, reduce dependency on formal institutions alone, and spread innovation benefits across communities. This promotes economic diversification and resilience in less economically developed rural areas, contributing to more balanced regional growth and social inclusion aligned with the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda.
It's worth noting that the drivers of rural creative clusters are similar to those in urban areas, except for the 'presence of informal networks'. A survey of employers in the Creative Industries has revealed the migrant and skills needs of creative businesses in the UK, but the article does not provide specifics on the timeframe for this survey.
Dr Inge Hill, a Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at The Open University Business School, and Dr Jorge Velez Ospina, a Research Fellow in Innovation and Creative Industries, are among the researchers contributing to this field. Dr Josh Siepel, an Associate Professor in the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex Business School, has also been instrumental in this research.
In conclusion, policy interventions that provide financial support, capacity building, and infrastructure for creative microbusinesses in rural areas encourage the formation of informal networks. These networks improve knowledge sharing and innovation diffusion, directly supporting the Levelling Up agenda’s aim to stimulate economic growth and opportunity outside of major urban centers.
- The presence of rural creative microclusters, such as Felton Gallery 45 in Northumberland, is a potential area of focus for domestic growth, following the UK's departure from the EU.
- These microclusters, often forming clusters with other creative businesses, are hubs for artists and businesses, with around a third operating within a cluster.
- New research, led by the University of Sussex and funded by the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE), identifies the proximity to a university as a determinant of rural creative clusters.
- Policy interventions like targeted grants, innovation mentoring, and business support schemes could foster the formation of informal networks within these microclusters.
- Grants supporting creative infrastructure, such as rehearsal spaces, festivals, promoters, and venues, can serve as physical hubs for informal networks and knowledge spillovers.
- Informal networks in rural microclusters are vital, as they facilitate knowledge spillovers, trust-building, and collective innovation, promoting economic diversification and resilience.
- The drivers of rural creative clusters are similar to urban areas, but rural areas primarily benefit from the presence of informal networks.
- Researchers like Dr Inge Hill, Dr Jorge Velez Ospina, and Dr Josh Siepel contribute to the understanding of the factors that drive growth in the rural creative industries, supporting the Levelling Up agenda by stimulating economic growth and opportunity outside of major urban centers.
