British Creative Class Formation And Development

The creative industry is a sunrise industry - one that is relatively new, fast growing and is expected to become more important in the future. This phenomenon involves many interdependent factors such as culture, technology, education and geographic location.It is now internationally acknowledged that the creative industry is one of the most important sources of economic growth this century and an essential development in any modern, thriving civilization. It is envisaged that in future, there will be competition for the established creative cities from new players around the world. Creative talent meanwhile, needs careful nurturing and will become one of a nation's most valuable resources.My chosen research angle is to study and understand the background of the creative class. Identify who they are, how they work, etc. By focusing on this group it is my intention to uncover key aspects of this fascinating industry. The answer I am seeking is how creativity has become the new driving force.The beginning of the study was based on the theory that the creative class developed in cities. Since it is recognized that a city's character is the product of its history, geography and culture, then its individual creative industry model will have developed differently. Through research, I have found that a further evolution of the creative industry has evolved in non-city areas, in the suburbs and even the countryside. Therefore the theory to be examined is whether individual talents can be attracted by different geographical factors.My choice of geographical location for study is the UK. The main reasons are first and foremost that the UK as a whole and London in particular, enjoy a peerless reputation for "creative industry' - in fact the term was actually coined there. Secondly, because there is an affinity between UK and China in so far as they share a long history, the respect for tradition and in the last century, have begun to interlink cultures.The UK has evolved from a manufacturing economy to an information economy and now a creative economy that exploits the knowledge, imagination and passion of individuals to create extraordinary value and wealth.Over the past 3 decades, China has focused much of its energy on strengthening its industrial fundamentals. Its economic strategy has made it a dynamic and prosperous nation. However, as globalization, technology and competition are changing the global environment, the factors for success in the past may not necessarily apply in the future.The starting point for research has been to reassess and challenge the creative cluster concept. The creative cluster is considered a key contributor to the creative economy and can be defined as "those industries which have their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent and which have a potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property". These creative industries directly or indirectly produce cultural products and include not only commercial enterprises but also artists, public and non-profit organizations. Unified by the thread of cultural creativity, the creative cluster cuts across multiple economic sectors and does not constitute a cohesive sector in the traditional sense of an industry sector.For the purposes of this research, I have categorized the creative industries into three broad groups. Arts & Culture, Design, Media.