The creative industries in the UK are facing a unique and potentially transformative moment in history. In the face of challenges such as reduced public funding and a lessening focus in state education, it has never been more important for the sector’s leaders to ensure that voices from a broad range of backgrounds continue to have a platform from which to have their say.
While the challenges may be significant, the optimism, interest and enthusiasm in the arts and culture sector should not be underestimated. It remains the fastest growing economic sector in the UK, and those driving it forward continue to ensure their voices, and those of the diverse population of this country, can be heard.
In this edition, we speak to film producer Uzma Hasan, Director and Founder of Little House Productions and NED for Channel 4 (an appointment Saxton Bampfylde advised on last year). Uzma shares her thoughts on the narratives the British film industry has traditionally given priority to and the challenges of ensuring the art you produce is relevant in a world where ever more content is available at the click of a button.
We are also delighted to have had the opportunity to speak with Bob Riley, Chief Executive of the world-renowned Manchester Camerata, an organisation that has set out to change the way in which an orchestra is perceived. Bob shares his perspective on the power of music and its use as therapy, and gives us a sneak peek into what’s next for the orchestra that has opened at Glastonbury and partnered with Manchester’s famous Hacienda DJs.
This edition of CANVAS follows Saxton Bampfylde’s sponsorship of the Foundling Museum’s ‘Ladies of Quality and Distinction’ exhibition, a celebration of the women without whom the UK’s first children’s charity, the Foundling Hospital, would never have existed. We speak with two of the women charged with driving forward the success of the Museum, its Director Caro Howell, and Chair of the Board and Saxton Bampfylde Non-Executive Director, Larissa Joy. We talk to them about the connection between the arts and philanthropic endeavour and hear their opinions on the secrets behind a successful relationship between executive and non-executive leadership.
While each of these interviews explore unique aspects of the arts and culture sector, they are united by a common passion for diverse narrative storytelling. The UK’s creative industries are a powerful force and the sector’s dedication to embracing and driving forward transformational change shouldn’t be underestimated.
