New network for creative industries comes to Swansea

The launch at Swansea Arena on the evening of September 26 will bring together representatives of the creative industry and cultural sector for a panel discussion on how to sustain and grow the creative sector across Swansea's travel to work area.

Creative Swansea is being funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund and supported by cultural services within Swansea Council.

Speakers will include representatives from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Swansea University, The Bunkhouse, Elysium Gallery, Zygo Media, Tramshed Tech, Grand Ambition, Swansea Council's regeneration team and Gower College, as well as documentary film maker Joe David Evans and Huw Williams, who worked extensively in the music industry. The panel will encourage a collaborative approach to creative industry development.

The launch event is part of a long-term plan to establish a creative network in Swansea and surrounding areas. The network will arrange regular events for discussions, networking, collaboration opportunities, upskilling sessions, talks and more.

Tracey McNulty, Head of Cultural Services at Swansea Council, said: "We have been discussing the opportunity for a Creative Swansea network with partners and individuals in Swansea and the surrounding areas for some time, learning from similar set-ups elsewhere.

"The network is a great opportunity to join forces between the institutions in the region with the sector, at all levels, for the benefit of all.

"It's fantastic to see it coming together thanks to the funding achieved and the drive and commitment of everyone working to make this happen."

Cllr Elliott King, Cabinet Member for Culture, Equalities and Human Rights at Swansea Council, said "We already know that Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire act as a hub for creative businesses and have fantastic opportunities for creative organisations to develop, invest, and offer fulfilling careers for emerging talent.

"By establishing the Creative Swansea Network, we hope to unite creative organisations to improve collaborative working and consider opportunities for sector-wide growth and development.

"The creative and cultural sector is currently estimated to contribute over £120 billion to the UK economy and we want to listen to what the sector needs in order to grow."

Nerys Evans, Strategic Manager for Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy at Swansea Council, said "The launch event 'A Creative Future' is just the start of a programme of panel discussions, networking and upskilling events. We encourage creative practitioners, businesses and aspiring professionals to get in touch with us to find out more about the network."

Following the launch event, two further sessions will take place.

The Esports Wales and CreaTech industry networking event will take place on October 24 in XP gaming Bar, with speakers from Esports Wales, Zygo Media, DragonfiAR, Swansea University, Creative Wales and Swansea Council. There will be some special guests from the world of streaming, with XP Gaming Bar set to become Wales' second ever Esports Wales 'local'.

The second event for this calendar year will take place on a date to be confirmed in November at HQ Urban Kitchen, partnering with Urban Foundry, and themed for creative business start-ups. Funding and finance advice will be shared, with tailored guidance on how to access funds and how to set up a creative business. Speakers are still to be confirmed.

To join Creative Swansea and find out more about the free event series, visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/creative-swansea-network