Opinion makers: Andy Burnham on developing Liverpool's creative talent

By Tony McDonough on Apr 19, 08 09:10 PM

LIVERPOOL is known for its creative talent. We have produced the world's most famous band and top television programmes, we have a world class orchestra, art galleries and theatres.

But all too often, it's difficult for young people to make a career out of their passions.

It can be a case of who you know, whether you'll leave your home town and how little money you're prepared to work for. I want to change that.

I recently launched a new strategy "Creative Britain: New Talents for the New Economy" and central to it is the creation of 5,000 apprenticeships a year in the creative economies. And Liverpool is once again leading the way.

Over the last year, eight of Liverpool's cultural and creative employers have banded together to work with Creative and Cultural Skills to develop a model for creative apprenticeships that could be used nationwide.

In 2008, apprentices will be taken on by companies such as Tate Liverpool, the Everyman and Playhouse Theatres, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the Bluecoat. They will work towards a level 2 award in Community Arts Management. It's an exciting opportunity for our young people, and one that will expand in the future.

The "Creative Britain" strategy covers a wide range of other initiatives. Ideas are the real currency of creativity. So we are taking steps to protect intellectual property and provide support for innovation, including a framework that protects creators' rights on the internet.

And many small creative organisations need better support and access to business expertise. In Liverpool the Regional Development Agency will forge links between local companies and companies providing business advice.

The UK Film Council is working with six mixed media venues around the country to provide a focus for the local creative economy. In this region it will be Liverpool's Foundation for Art and Creative Technology (FACT) - a well-deserved recognition of its cutting edge work.

Finally, we need to give our creative industries a powerful global presence. The centrepiece will be the World Creative Business Conference, a new annual international event held in the UK, which I aim to make the equivalent of Davos for the creative industries. A fitting stage for our flourishing creative industries.

Andy Burnham is Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport