10 November 2006
Helen Mirren supports creativity venture
Actress Helen Mirren has lent her support to a collaborative creative
initiative supported by the University of Dundee.
The actress has agreed to become the first Honorary Patron of the Institute
for Capitalising on Creativity. The Institute, formed to address the need
for specific management training for Scotland’s creative talent, hopes to
play a key role in boosting the creative industries in Scotland.
Dame Helen, the Oscar nominated and Emmy-award winning actress, director
and producer is best known for her pivotal role as DCI Jane Tennyson in the
television drama ‘Prime Suspect’. She has also appeared in starring roles
in ‘Elizabeth I’ for television and in films such as, ‘The Madness of King
George’, ‘The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover’ and, most recently,
her highly acclaimed role in ‘The Queen’.
The actress, who received an honorary degree (Dlitt, Doctor of Letters)
from St Andrews in 1999 said:
"I am delighted to offer my support to the new Institute for Capitalising on Creativity by accepting the position of Honorary Patron. I will watch the progress of the venture with great interest and wish it every success."
The Institute, based at the University of St Andrews is a unique,
consortium which brings together top creative and management professionals
from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, University of Dundee;
the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama; the University of Abertay
Dundee and the University of St Andrews School of Management. An
international dimension is provided by a partnership with the Tisch School
of the Arts at New York University.
The Institute was recently awarded a grant from the Arts and Humanities
Research Council to run a series of workshops on creativity and the
creative industries, which were launched in October 2006. September 2007
will see the start of a pioneering postgraduate course in Creativity
Management, tailored to the needs of creative entrepreneurs. The course
will empower creative individuals to better manage their own career or team
while continuing to hone their individual creative practice. It is hoped
that it may also persuade Scottish-grown talent to stay in Scotland and
develop businesses here, while also tempting international students to
study and work in Scotland.
Institute Director Professor Barbara Townley, of the University of St
Andrews’ School of Management, said:
"We are thrilled that an actress of Helen Mirren’s status and calibre wishes to be associated with the Institute as an Honorary Patron. It is recognition by those who are established in the creative professions of the importance of what we aim to achieve with the Institute, and the uniqueness of the new Masters programme combining advanced creative practice with management knowledge so that individuals can build a successful career in the creative industries."
NOTE TO EDITORS:
Around 7% of Scotland’s employment is in, or linked to, creative
industries, a sector which generates £5-7 billion in revenue. Around
100,000 people are employed in Scotland’s creative industries, boasting an
annual turnover of around £5 billion. UK-wide, employment in the sector is
growing by 9% a year compared with 1.5% for the rest of the economy.
Scotland has the highest concentration of creative industries outside London.
The Institute for Capitalising on Creativity was formed in response to a
feasibility survey by independent technology think-tank, Technology
Development Group, which identified a need for specific management training
targeted for Scotland’s creative talent. The postgraduate course
contributes to the ‘pathway to success’ identified as being so important by
the Scottish Executive as part of its response to the Cultural Commission
report.
The recently-launched workshop series, entitled ‘The Discipline of
Creativity: Exploring the Paradox’, was one of 13 awarded under a
competitive scheme run by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the
Economic and Social Research Council, the Department of Trade and Industry
and the Arts Council (England). A series of five one day academic workshops
(between October 2006 and May 2007) will explore the interplay of
discipline and creativity that characterise the creative industries,
culminating with a sixth event in September 2007 for industry professionals.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT PROFESSOR BARBARA TOWNLEY ON TEL 01334
461974, 07971 291914 OR EMAIL BT11@ST-ANDREWS.AC.UK
www.capitalisingoncreativity.ac.uk
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