Industry Focus: The UK won’t need less creative space – it needs new types of space.

The year is 2035, and after a decade of surprising political stability, Labour – in its third term – has unexpectedly had the chance to see through its ten-year industrial strategy. 

In line with the Creative Industries Sector Plan, Britain is now the number one destination for global investment in creativity and innovation.  The best of AI technology has been used to explore new frontiers of creative expression, while live performance is thriving. We’ve stopped boxing people into ‘scientist’ or ‘artist’ categories, and have embraced the ‘createch’ revolution. 

As we imagine this future – ask yourself – where are these creative geniuses working, rehearsing, and innovating?  Technology doesn’t kill creativity.  The creation of modern CGI ushered in a new golden age for film and TV studios by opening new avenues for storytelling.  Digital music performance enabled the BBC Proms to reach a record-breaking audience of 10.6 million last year.  TikTok has helped shows at London’s two newest major theatres, @sohoplace and The Bridge, become global sensations.

In a sense, the need for space, and the business case for investment in new creative industries real estate, has never been stronger.  Not least in the creative clusters and microclusters highlighted in the sector plan. But what type of space is needed, and what counts as creative space, has undeniably changed.  The creative arts need data centres as well as dance studios. Research labs as well as rehearsal space.

The only thing to fear is fear itself.  Too many people still incorrectly see the whole creative sector as outmoded – about to be replaced by a glossy, techy future.  This misunderstanding insults the millions of creative innovators, performers, and entrepreneurs that have used technology and talent to keep the UK at the forefront of global culture for centuries. They will do the same for many years to come – but only if we give them the support and the space that they need.