Symposium Theme: Creative Industries Futures

About the Symposium 

ACM is pleased to invite contributions for our second annual symposium – Creative Industries Futures – on the 14th of June at the Exchange, Centenary Square, in Birmingham

Workforce 

In recent years, organisations in the creative industries have had to evolve and innovate to ensure continued success in today’s socio-economic climate. Recent data suggests that the creative industries are continuing to adapt and thrive, with 2.4 million jobs filled in the UK Creative Industries in 2022, a 14.1% rise since 2019 (DCMS, 2023). The nature of this work must therefore be considered, and this requires us to reflect on the character and identity of creative workers themselves, and the increasing demands that they face. 

Despite the growth of the UK Creative Industries, creative organisations are experiencing increasing skills gaps in the creative workforce since Brexit (Creative-PEC, 2023). Consequently, creative practitioners and educators must respond, adapting to an industry that requires a multi-skilled and agile workforce. 

This also presents opportunities to make positive changes to policies and ways of working within these industries to increase equality, diversity and representation, providing a space for individuals from all backgrounds to thrive and use their creativity. 

Furthermore, recent regional priorities and budget cuts within Birmingham create challenges for creative and cultural sectors and organisations which are important to address. The Creative Industries Futures Symposium aims to facilitate a space for these discussions. 

ACM is delighted to invite contributions for our annual Creative Industries Futures Symposium to discuss central themes integral to our work as academics, educators and practitioners traversing the new creative industry landscape.  

This symposium will explore the future(s) of the creative industries workforce from a range of perspectives: How can we champion equality, diversity and representation within the creative industries? How do we prepare the next generation for work in these industries, which increasingly require multi-skilled practitioners? What impact is innovation and technology having on the creative industries workforce?

We are also particularly interested to receive proposals that focus on the creative industries and workforce within the West Midlands, given the current socio-economic climate. 

We invite proposals for papers, performance presentations, panels, posters and provocations. We encourage proposals to explore a range of developments, practices and ways of working across the creative industries with a forward thinking focus. 

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Equality, diversity and representation in the creative industries
  • The evolving nature of work in the creative industries
  • Preparing the next generation of creative industries practitioners 
  • Art vs commerce and creative identity 
  • Changing definitions of roles, products, spaces, and community in the creative industries 
  • The impact of innovation and evolving technologies on the creative workforce 
  • The creative industries and workforce in the West Midlands 
  • Subject specific research in areas relating to Games Development, Music Performance, Production, and Live Events, Business & Entrepreneurship in the Creative Industries

Contribution Types & Parameters

  • Paper Presentation – 20 minutes (plus Q&A)
  • Performances presentations – 20 mins (plus Q&A)
  • Panel Contribution – 10 minutes per contributor (plus Q&A)
  • Poster Presentation
  • Provocation – 20 minutes (plus Q&A)

Call for Contributions Submission Guidelines

Title, 300 word extended abstract or overview with reference list and any appropriate supporting material.

Contributors can alternatively submit a performance or practical proposal.

Full papers will be accepted for review, but will still require an abstract and should not substantially overlap with any previously published work.

Submissions should be sent as a pdf, anonymised (removing names from title/abstract/references) and sent to symposiums@acm.ac.uk. All proposals will be reviewed by the committee in line with the deadlines listed below.  

Important dates

deadline for submissions is the 17th of April. Will be reviewed by the 24th.