Hancock: 'Creative industries have got their mojo back'

New culture secretary Matt Hancock and his Labour counterpart Tom Watson presented different visions of the impact of Brexit on the creative industries at an event held last night (9th January) at the Natural History Museum to celebrate the third anniversary of the Creative Industries Federation.  

In his first speech as culture secretary following this week’s reshuffle, Hancock described 2017 as a year of creative success, with the UK’s creative industries “getting their mojo back across the length and breadth of the country”, not least in Hull as City of Culture, which he promised would not be a “one-hit wonder”, saying: “The cultural legacy that has been left for the region will inspire future generations and foster waves of new talent". 

On Brexit, Hancock said: “EU citizens enrich every part of our economy and cultural life. We have now reached a deal that protects the rights of EU national in the UK and UK citizens in the EU, which I hope will provide valuable certainty. This agreement has shown that as a country we can strike a good deal with the EU. This means we can forge a strong future with our cousins across the Channel but also remain open to the wider world.” He added: “I believe Britain’s future is bright, and that we can be an open, gregarious, optimistic nation, engaged with the world. Culture transcends boundaries and we have a strong track record of working with other countries around the world to produce works of artistic brilliance.”

But shadow culture secretary Tom Watson, also speaking at the event, warned of the "huge challenges" facing the country and the creative industries, saying: “No-one knows on what terms we will leave the EU, and the government needs to reassure us that Brexit does not leave us culturally isolated.”

Watson said the creative industries did not just contribute jobs and money to the economy, they also "describe Britain to itself and...represent Britain to the rest of the world." He told the audience: "Too much of your sector has had to deal with austerity”, picking out libraries among the institutions most affected, and saying his party was proud of its anti-austerity record. He also highlighted the issue of access and equality to the creative industries, saying: “Our cultural industries represent us to the world and should reflect us to the world too.” It was important to ensure early career workers in the sector can earn enough to support themselves even if they don’t have wealthy parents, he said.  

Hancock made a similar point, saying he was making a commitment to working towards a culture and society "where opportunity is equal wherever you come from.”  

A packed evening saw representatives from across the creative industries mingle, with circus entertainment in honour of Circus250, a UK-wide circus celebration taking place this year. From publishing, Penguin Random House UK c.e.o. Tom Weldon and Hachette c.e.o. David Shelley were among those attending on the night.

John Kampfner, chief executive of the Creative Industries Federation, described his organisation as “independent, authoritative and fearless”, giving the cultural industries “a political heft it has always deserved but not received."