Scotland's arts and creative industries sectors add more than £3.2 billion to the country’s economy, according to new research published today.
The research, jointly commissioned by Creative Scotland and Scottish Enterprise, also identifies direct employment in the sectors as at least 84,000, with a further 21,000 working in a creative capacity, for example those self-employed or working in a creative role beyond the creative industries.
Where indirect contributions (through the supply chain) and induced effects (spending by both the supply chain and workers within the arts and creative industries) are included, the total gross-value-added contribution rises to £6.3 billion and employment to nearly 130,000.
Overall levels of employment in the creative sectors are believed to be higher still, the researchers conclude, as current classifications may not capture all sole traders, freelancers or other workers.
The impact of the arts and creative industries on local economies across Scotland is also included in the study, and highlights the relative strengths of diverse sectors. Though Glasgow and Edinburgh account for 40 percent of all employees in the arts and creative industries, other areas also record higher than average levels of employment in those sectors. This includes:
- The Borders, where textiles and fashion feature as a key sector
- Orkney in crafts and heritage
- Shetland in fashion and textiles and heritage
The report highlights Scotland's performance when compared to UK counterparts in the arts and creative industries. London and the South East of England account for more than half of all UK jobs in these sectors, followed by Yorkshire, while Scotland ranks fourth.
The research is the first comprehensive study of the contribution to the wider economy of the arts and creative sectors. Using existing data from the Office of National Statistics, researchers have refined the sector definitions to more accurately reflect contemporary creative practice – identifying 16 distinct industries.
The study forms part of a wider programme of research that Creative Scotland and its partners are conducting – a more detailed study of the Outer Hebrides will be published shortly and further studies are planned on cities, design and film.
Read the report