The Roles of IP and Diversity in the Creative Industries

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The creative and cultural industries have been the focus of policy attention in both South Africa and the UK over recent decades. A common theme is the contribution that the creative industries can make to wealth creation. Two issues lie at the heart of the debate: the first is how intellectual property (IP) might be used by the creative industries, and the second is around how participation in the creative industries could be more diverse and inclusive. These are linked as both address sustainability of the sector through the potential for direct economic return and deepening of social and cultural representation. This network seeks to address these debates by bringing together researchers, creative industries participants and representatives, IP practitioners and early career researchers from South Africa and the UK to explore similarities and differences between the regulation of IP, and of equality and diversity in the creative industries. The network is interested in how the protection of indigenous knowledge as IP in South Africa might impact on trade with the UK (and Europe), how diversity and equality policies play out in practice, and how different cultural traditions may have different impacts on both IP and diversity and equality in the creative industries. The network will come together three times: the first in London where the meeting will be timed to coincide with a major cultural industries event such as a Remix Summit. The second network meeting will take place in Grahamstown in South Africa to coincide with the National Arts Festival and during which the network will participate in the Thinkfest. The third network meeting will also be in South Africa and will be an open meeting to which a range of stakeholders will be invited and at which the network will disseminate its findings.Outputs of the network will include: A peer-reviewed paper co-authored by network members addressing the findings from the network and containing a case study comparing diversity in the creative industries and the place of IP in the creative process as between the UK and South Africa, illustrating the possibilities and challenges faced, and policy implications. Three think papers and policy briefs for creative industry decision-takers and policy-makers on the place of IP in the creative process with comparative observations on diversity in the creative and cultural industries. These will be short, provocative, forward-looking documents based on insights from the meetings. Online resources and media including a website, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook and six 'talking heads' explaining in clear and accessible terms and to a general audience the purpose of the network and of its outcomes. A Thinkfest event in South Africa organised to coincide with the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown.