Countries across the developed world have been striving in recent years to boost the fortunes of smaller towns that may have been left behind somewhat by globalization. A recent study from the University of Exeter suggests that the creative industries could play a crucial role.
Beyond tourism
The researchers wanted to explore how coastal communities could move beyond tourism, and found that flexible apprenticeships, better access to finance, and the creation of peer-to-peer support networks are all likely to be crucial.
“While the seaside towns and villages of Devon and Cornwall are bustling at this time of year, our research shows that creative businesses in the region need more year-round investments and opportunities to thrive,” the researchers explain.
“We saw that many of Devon and Cornwall’s creative businesses were resilient over the pandemic, accessing new online audiences and clients and benefitting from COVID support funds that were not reliant on strict parameters like business density. This showed us the benefits of creative industries investment in a region where applying for and accessing funding is historically low.”
Creative regeneration
The researchers conducted interviews with various businesses from across the creative industries in the South West of England. They learned that these firms were generally keen to invest in the skills and careers of young people, and also support their ability to live and work in the region. They were often hamstrung in this desire by a lack of finance, however, while they also cite a general lack of government support at both the national and local levels to create creative clusters.
The researchers explain that the project-based nature of work in the creative industries was also cited as a factor that can make it challenging for firms to provide young people with full-time employment.
They argue that flexible apprenticeships could be invaluable in addressing this challenge as they would allow employment to be spread across multiple businesses during the set period of the apprenticeship. They also believe more formal coordination of sector-specific networks could be invaluable as these could support peer-to-peer networking and knowledge exchange that in turn could help to better connect disparate locations spread over large geographic areas.
“On the evidence of this work, there is a clearly-defined ambition to establish creative ecologies in coastal and rural areas—and an understanding of what we need to get there,” the researchers conclude. “Businesses are ready to pick up the baton and that is a very optimistic sign. But there are recurring barriers as well—such as the need for better transport links and affordable housing—and that is why it is important that the Leveling-Up agenda doesn’t fall down the priority list of the incoming Prime Minister.”
