The UK’s creative industries are renowned for being world leading and in Essex we have some of the best creative talent, performers, and creative business in the world.
In 2021 the UK creative industries employed 2.3 million people and generated £108bn in economic value. The creative industries are at the forefront of innovation, they encourage challenge and debate, culture enriches lives, united communities and builds a sense of place, and Essex has a part to play in that national picture.
Essex is well known for producing creative talent and inspiring artists and creativity, from inspiring Gustav Holst’s ‘Jupiter’ movement, through to contemporary names in the performing arts such as Dame Helen Mirren and Olly Murs and to artists like Grayson Perry who brought the nation together during the pandemic with his virtual Art Club, Essex has a long legacy in nurturing artists and creatives.
More recently the region is establishing itself as a centre for digital and games development. Essex has always been a home for technological innovation and being within an easy commute to London, the county is seeing growing hubs in the creative industries including XR/AR and games development in companies such as Dlala studios who were nominated for two BAFTA Games Awards in 2024 for their work on Disney Illusion Island.
In a recent report which mapped Creative Hubs in Essex. Over sixty creative hubs were identified across the county, identifying these hubs of creativity and innovation help to build an evidence base upon which the public and private sector can advocate for support and look for national level investment in culture and creative enterprise for Essex.
One of the most significant creative hubs is the Thames Estuary Production Corridor which spans the estuary from Kent through to Basildon and Tilbury.
The Thames Estuary Production Corridor has the potential to be the UK’s largest concentrations of creative production. It will play a crucial role in London and the South East’s social and economy, contributing to long-term growth through forward-thinking investment in culture and the creative Industries, helping create thousands of jobs, building world-class cultural infrastructure and developing local skills opportunities that will be crucial to deliver sustainable and equitable growth.
In 2023 Essex County Council published the first Cultural Strategy for Essex in over a decade, recognising the social and economic value that the creative sector has to Essex.
Essex now has its first ever dedicated Film Office for Essex, which has already helped to attract some fantastic TV and Film productions into Essex – including Mr Bates Vs the Post Office which was partly filmed in Chelmsford and productions starring big named Hollywood stars and hits for streaming channels, including the Essex Serpent which was shot almost all on location in Essex.
Film and TV activity can bring a wealth of benefits to an area, from tourism to employment opportunities for crew and suppliers. And with excellent training, higher and further education courses in film and TV production, to hair and make-up to and world class costume design courses with access to the Royal Opera house production workshop and costume centre in Thurrock, Essex is becoming a creative industries powerhouse.
Greater Essex boasts thirteen Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisations, ranging from the Mercury Theatre and Firstsite in Colchester, Rhiannon Faith Theatre Company in Harlow and Coda Dance in Thurrock. Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture in England and these National Portfolio Organisations form the backbone of creative and cultural provision across the country.
In terms of education, Essex has two Music Hubs who deliver music provision across the county’s schools in the form of Essex Music Hub and Southend Music Hub and Royal Oprah House Bridge who support teachers and schools deliver high quality arts education in Essex schools as well as supporting Local Cultural Education Partnerships.
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