Sadiq Khan has committed to “turbo-charging” the creative industries in London, if re-elected on May 2. He revealed plans to bring a £3 billion economic boost by the end of a potential third term, as well as a pledge to fund the Museum of London’s new home, complete the new cultural quarter in the Olympic Park and help local creative businesses thrive, building on the growing number of Creative Enterprise Zones across the capital.
Backing London’s creative industries should be a no-brainer for every mayoral candidate. The creative economy accounts for one in every five jobs in London and it’s still growing faster than the rest of the UK’s economy, generating more than £50 billion a year, attracting tourists and boosting Britain’s reputation around the world.
Just last week, I was in South Korea meeting government officials who are studying the policies that have been so successful in London and are eager to learn from them.
Nine of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions’ ten most-visited sites in the country last year were in London, with the British Museum, Natural History Museum and Tate Modern leading the way.
For the screen industries, there are more than 4,500 production firms operating in London, with a combined turnover of almost £4 billion.
And next week, the London Games Festival kicks off, billed as “the world’s biggest celebration of video games and interactive entertainment”.
London Fashion Week is celebrating its 40th year of supporting this city’s designers, while the Frieze art fair recently marked its 20th anniversary.
Theatre in London continues to attract the world’s leading actors to the stage, with performances by Sarah Jessica Parker, David Tennant and Sarah Snook seen in recent months.
While Hollywood does movies and Milan does fashion, London does it all
What makes London a unique creative powerhouse is that, while Hollywood does movies and Milan does fashion, London does it all. Our art schools are growing the next generation of talent for the world and, in a city where more than 300 languages are spoken every day, that really does make us “global”.
Industry figures from film, fashion, games and design have all welcomed Sadiq’s pledge today. And it’s clear that London’s creatives need as much backing as they can get right now.
It’s seriously disturbing that Susan Hall, the Conservative candidate for mayor, has threatened to cut the city’s culture budget. A career in the creative industries has always been precarious, but now it feels like a perfect storm is brewing.
From Brexit and rising operating costs to the loss of tax-free shopping for visitors and the challenges faced by grassroots music venues, London’s creative businesses manage to grow no matter what. But if they are really to prosper they need the support and clear strategies that come from strong political leadership. We need a mayor with the foresight and determination to back them.
Let’s hope that today’s announcement signals the start of all candidates in this election taking culture as seriously as the Mayor. London deserves it.
