The main objective of the Creative Edge project is to increase the active participation of local creative organisations and businesses in global markets and equally in their ability to attract and utilise local emerging creative talent in these markets. This is important as the creative economy is increasingly seen to be a major area of growth in the coming decades for rural peripheral regions. The Creative Edge project is sponsored by the Northern Periphery Programme.
The activities of Creative Edge are structured around five work packages:
- Management, co-ordination and communications
- Policy review, analysis and development framework
- Access to export development programme
- Access to emerging talent development programme
- Creative place development
Work package 1
Administrative workpackage dealing with project management, co-ordination and communications
Work package 2
The mapping of the creative sector in peripheral European regions: an extensive exercise that will contribute to the growing academic literature on the impact of creativity on economic well-being.
Work package 3
The creation of an Export platform: providing creative industries from peripheral areas with the opportunity to access international markets via real and virtual presences.
Work package 4
An Employment bank: for potential employees and employers in an economy where skills requirement vary at an increased rate. This bank will provide virtual and real meeting places for information and knowledge sharing.
Work package 5
Creative places: one of the most obvious impacts of the current economic downturn is the rate of vacancy of high-street outlets. This part of the project seeks to match emerging creative talent with available space to create and showcase their work.
The activities of Creative Edge can also be understood in terms of supporting the three pillars of the creative economy: People, Production and Place
CREATIVE PEOPLE
This pillar involves supporting the increased employability of young creative people through skills development and access to social and capital supports. For example Creative Edge initiatives in this area involve peer to peer mentoring, a talent voucher scheme and increased access to networks.
CREATIVE PRODUCTION
This pillar involves the creation of an export platform, providing creative industries from peripheral areas with the opportunity to access international markets via real and virtual presences. Combined with this is the establishment of an employment bank for potential employees and employers in an economy where skills requirement vary at an increased rate. This bank will provide virtual and real meeting places for information and knowledge sharing.
CREATIVE PLACES
One of the most obvious impacts of the current economic downturn is the rate of vacancy of high-street outlets. This part of the project seeks to match emerging creative talent with available space to create and showcase their work.
This pillar also involves the mapping of the creative sector in peripheral European regions. This is an extensive exercise that will contribute to the growing academic literature on the impact of creativity on economic well-being.