Artists and creative organisations to deliver three days of vital policy discussion and inspiring performances in Liverpool.
From Sunday 22 to Tuesday 24 September 2024, representatives from across the Cultural and Creative Industries will come together at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool to showcase – and advocate for – the huge value and impact of the creative sector in the United Kingdom, and beyond.
In an extraordinary moment of collaboration, 40 creative organisations have come together with Creative UK and a range of celebrated talent to ensure that politicians, policymakers and party members hear first-hand the solutions the cultural and creative industries have for the socio-economic challenges we face.
Located inside the Conference secure zone, the Cultural and Creative Industries Pavilion will be home to three days of policy-led discussions and debates, alongside performances and presentations.
Topics to be discussed include, why who makes culture matters, rethinking funding models, our collective approach to creative skills development, navigating the age of AI, and Britain’s position on the world stage – both as a global exporter of goods and services as well as wielding soft power.
The programme’s content will explore why the Cultural and Creative Industries should be central to Labour’s policymaking, and how the sector can tangibly drive inclusive growth across the UK.
Partners in the Pavilion represent a wide range of creative sub-sectors, and include: the Advertising Association, Alliance for Intellectual Property, Art Fund, Animation UK, Association of Photographers, Bectu sector of Prospect, BPI (British Recorded Music Industry) Ltd, British Fashion Council, Channel 4, Contemporary Visual Art Network, Council for Higher Education in Art and Design, Create Central, Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre, Crafts Council, De Montfort University, Design C Artists Copyright Society, Design Business Association, Design Council, Digital Creator Association, Directors UK, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, FACT Liverpool, GuildHE, Independent Society of Musicians, Lewis Silkin, Motion Picture Association, National Theatre, Publishers Association, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Royal Ballet and Opera, Royal College of Art, Royal Shakespeare Company, Sadler’s Wells, Society of London Theatre C UK Theatre, Southbank Centre, Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI, The Heritage Alliance, UK Interactive Entertainment, UK Screen Alliance and University of the Arts London.
Pavilion programme extracts
Tony and Grammy award-winning actress and singer Cynthia Erivo will be appearing in a fireside discussion, ahead of her starring role in the upcoming Wicked film;
BAFTA-award winning actress Vicky McClure MBE will be discussing how we can broaden working class representation in the Creative Industries, alongside filmmaker Jonny Owen and Alison Rashley, Executive Artistic Director of the Television Workshop in Nottingham;
BAFTA-winning actor, director and author Andy Serkis will be discussing how to grow the UK’s position as an international hub for the Creative Industries, alongside the President of the Motion Picture Association, Stan McCoy;
Carnegie Medal-winner and Waterstone’s Children Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce will be in conversation with Bonnier Books’ Perminder Mann, discussing the positive impact of literacy in children;
National Film Award-winning Actor, presenter and Royal Academy of Dramatic Art President David Harewood OBE will take part in a fireside chat on creative skills, education, and the links between creativity and health;
BAFTA-award winning actor David Morrissey will be discussing how to drive regional change and equality of opportunity;
Olivier Award-winning actor Adrian Lester CBE will be appearing in conversation.
Les Dennis will reprise his role as Malvolio, following on from Not Too Tame’s critically acclaimed production of Twelfth Night at Shakespeare North Playhouse accompanied by Artistic Director Jimmy Fairhurst and Associate Artist Laura Harrison;
In Harmony Liverpool – Liverpool Philharmonic’s youth orchestra for children from the North of the city – will open the Pavilion on Sunday 22 September.
Liverpool’s extraordinary contribution to UK music will also be marked, with performances from Brad Kella – winner of Channel 4’s The Piano; award-winning British Neo-Jazz Singer- Songwriter, Ni Maxine, and celebrated singer songwriter, Michael Aldag.
The National Theatre will be delivering a special screening of Nye, which charts the life of Nye Bevan – played by Michael Sheen – and his battle to create the NHS. The screening will be introduced by NT Director Designate Indhu Rubasingham.
The Pavilion is generously sponsored by Sky Sports. On Tuesday, they will be hosting a screening and informal drinks, showcasing the amazing power of sport to bring communities together, boost local economies, and improve our lives. We’ll be raising a glass to unforgettable moments, inspiring athletes, and the brilliant creative minds of the UK.
The full programme can be found at conference.wearecreative.uk.
The Cultural and Creative Industries Pavilion has been programmed by 40 leading creative organisations from across the sector, spanning screens, stages, galleries, museums, studios, classrooms and more. It is an extraordinary opportunity for our sector to speak with one voice on the issues which matter, and for our perspective to be heard by leaders from across the Labour party, including those at the very highest levels of UK Government.
The creative sector can provide solutions to some our biggest shared challenges in the UK. It’s key to how we stimulate economic growth and strengthen global exports, as well as how we can help grow the UK’s soft power status, support public health, and enrich the quality of life for UK residents. This Pavilion will be home to truly essential policy discussion, impacting not just the creative sector – but touching across every area of Whitehall.
Since winning the UK General Election, the Labour Party has made clear their commitment to creativity. Now is the time for pledges to become practice, and this conference is our opportunity to ensure a roadmap for our sector is firmly in place.
Caroline Norbury OBE, Chief Executive of Creative UK
