Press Release
Mayor highlights trailblazing Asian creative talent in new report
3-2-2003 048
The Asian contribution to London’s creative industries is a huge potential asset that is ripe for future growth, according to a new report published by Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone.
Play it Right - Asian Creative Industries in London shows that Asians currently make up approximately 6 per cent of London’s creative sector and that Asian creative businesses are already making waves on the international stage.
Figures in the report show that Asian people are significantly over-represented in fast-growing sectors such as designer fashion, arts and antiques, and computer services and software.
These growth areas, together with a young and rapidly growing working age population, and the increasingly wide-ranging career choices second and third generation Asians are making, mean numbers are likely to grow further.
However Asians are still under-represented in the creative industries as a whole. The report identifies constraints the Asian creative sector can face, such as difficulties accessing mainstream markets, and identifies solutions that include:
- Exploiting huge international export markets in Asia
- More training in marketing and business planning
- Encouragement of mainstream business to make better use of Asian creative companies
Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said: ‘The Asian presence within London’s creative industries is a huge asset. It has the potential to improve the competitiveness of the sector, and to forge and sustain unique links between London and several of the world’s fastest growing economies, including India and China. I will continue to work with London’s Asian community and mainstream business to ensure Asian creativity is allowed to fulfil its potential.’
A new film to accompany the report, My London, looks at what makes London a hotbed of Asian creative talent. Contributors include photographers, performance artists, architects, advertisers, and designers. Presented by rising screen star Ameet Chana (Bend It Like Beckham), the film seeks to encourage a new generation of Asian talent to launch creative careers.
Ameet Chana said: ‘The capital’s Asian talent is a fascinating fusion of traditional and modern, western and Asian influences, and encompasses nationalities as diverse as Indians, Chinese, Bangladeshis and Japanese. My own experience is that the creative industries in the world’s most vibrant city are the most exciting place to be.’
Notes to Editors
1. Play it Right - Asian Creative Industries in London is launched on Tuesday 04 February 2003. The first screening of the film, My London, will take place 18:30 on the same day, at the Mayor’s Asian Business Reception, City Hall – in front of an audience of Asian business leaders.
2. London’s creative industries contribute £21 billion annually to the capital’s economy – the second highest-grossing sector after business services.
3. Asians make up just over 16 per cent of London’s working-age population. The top 3 creative industries for Asian involvement show clear over-representation in growing sectors:
Designer fashion 20.1%
Arts/Antiques 17.9%
4. The report will feed into the Mayor’s Creative Industries Commission set up to identify practical approaches to ensure maximum growth in London’s thriving creative sector.
5. The definition of the creative industries used in the report includes advertising, architecture, arts and antique sales, crafts, design, designer fashion, film and video, interactive leisure software, music, performing arts, publishing, software and computer services, television and radio. The United Nations definition of Asian was adopted. This includes Indians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis and Chinese, but also Japanese, Korean, Sri Lankan, Taiwanese, Turko-Kurdish and Vietnamese communities.
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