CREATIVE industries such as film, television and performing arts could play a big role in the Island’s future economy, a panel of international experts told over 100 Islanders yesterday.
Independent artists, States Members and representatives from Visit Jersey and Jersey Employment Trust were among attendees at the day-long Creative Industries Conference in the Freedom Centre – a free event open to all.
Guests also heard that the recently announced £80m regeneration scheme for Fort Regent could be part of a plan to keep young people in the Island – as 88% of surveyed 19–29-year-olds said they intended to leave Jersey, citing a “lack of things to do”.
The event, organised by the Creative Island Partnership, was held as the government published its music manifesto, created with input from the Island’s music community.
The manifesto called for a new “high-value, multi-purpose” venue to boost the local industry, a strategy to develop the Island’s music scene, a “music champion” post within the government and investment in an annual festival.
At yesterday’s conference, creative consultants Dr Tom Fleming, Carlos Martins, Johanna Kouzmine-Karavaïeff, from the UK, Portugal and Sweden respectively, spoke about how the creative economy drives growth.
The panel session and workshop’s goal was to start building a roadmap for Jersey’s future creative economy.
The government’s head of economic analysis, Kirsty Pearson, outlined two challenges facing Jersey, the first of which was declining productivity among the workforce. In 2020, the Island needed almost two workers to produce the output previously produced by one worker in 1999.
The second challenge was the Island’s ageing population, exacerbated by a low and falling birth rate.
She said: “A strong, vibrant creative sector can help drive economic growth. It can do this directly, through entrepreneurial activity, harnessing creative spirit that can be an engine for growth.
“It can also do this indirectly, because it makes Jersey a better place for people to live. People will want to come here. It will attract and retain talent, and that is also important for driving economic growth.
“We have a lot of churn in the population, and a strong creative industry will help us to retain workers. People say that there is not quite enough to do here all the year round – can creative industries fill that gap?”
It would also provide opportunities for an ageing population to remain active and engaged in their later years, she said.
Dr Tom Fleming’s presentation addressed how creative industries could play a more significant role and contribute more effectively to the Island’s GDP and its way of life. He described Jersey as a “living lab” which could experiment with ways to grow its brand and culture, and build cultural tourism.
