{"id":573,"date":"2026-03-12T14:34:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T14:34:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/creative-economy\/?p=573"},"modified":"2026-03-12T15:04:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T15:04:44","slug":"a-decade-of-creative-innovation-how-creative-cardiff-is-shaping-the-regions-creative-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/creative-economy\/a-decade-of-creative-innovation-how-creative-cardiff-is-shaping-the-regions-creative-future\/","title":{"rendered":"A decade of creative innovation: How Creative Cardiff is shaping the region\u2019s creative future"},"content":{"rendered":"

Creative Cardiff\u00a0<\/span>has recently\u00a0<\/span>celebrate<\/span>d<\/span>\u00a0ten years of connecting and championing the region\u2019s creative community,\u00a0<\/span>and now\u00a0<\/span>we’re<\/span>\u00a0taking the opportunity to spotlight the ideas, partnerships and innovations that have shaped this journey so far. Sitting within the Centre for the Creative Economy, our work is grounded in collaboration between researchers,\u00a0<\/span>creatives<\/span>\u00a0and industry. <\/span><\/span>With March\u2019s Creative Cardiff theme focused on \u2018Promoting yourself and your work<\/span>\u2019,<\/span>\u00a0it feels\u00a0<\/span>timely<\/span> to highlight how our work has amplified voices, supported <\/span>innovation<\/span>\u00a0and strengthened the creative fabric of the Cardiff Capital Region.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Innovative\u00a0<\/span>f<\/span>rameworks\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>s<\/span>upport\u00a0<\/span>r<\/span>egional\u00a0<\/span>c<\/span>reative\u00a0<\/span>c<\/span>lusters\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

At Creative Cardiff, we believe that a connected creative sector is a more innovative, resilient one<\/span>. Over the last decade, we\u2019ve supported projects that connect researchers, creatives, and communities to experiment, test, and reimagine what\u2019s possible in South East Wales\u2019 creative economy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Creative Industries Cluster Hubs<\/a> (CICH) Initiative (July 2023 \u2013 March 2024)\u202fwas a \u00a3200K pilot project led by Cardiff University\u2019s Centre for the Creative Economy<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u202f<\/span>via\u00a0the\u00a0Creative\u00a0Cardiff<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u202f<\/span>network. Funded by the\u202fArts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)\u202fand\u202fDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the project was part of a \u00a32.6M UK-wide investment in \u201cDemonstrator\u201d projects designed to explore how existing creative clusters could grow, attract investment, and deliver impact.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Through CICH, Creative Cardiff played a key role in\u00a0extending\u00a0Cardiff\u2019s creative cluster with wider\u00a0regional\u00a0activity;\u00a0bringing together local creative businesses, researchers, and\u00a0local authorities\u00a0in Newport,\u00a0Monmouthshire\u00a0and Rhondda Cynon Taf\u00a0to share learning and highlight the potential of the\u00a0creative industries\u00a0across the Cardiff Capital Region. The work reinforced Cardiff\u00a0and the region\u2019s position\u00a0and future potential\u00a0as a hub of creative innovation in Wales.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The impact of the pilot was significant, generating new revenue, jobs, and creative connections across the region. As\u00a0<\/span>previous\u00a0<\/span>Head of Creative Cardiff<\/span>, current CEO of Cyfartha Foundation<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>report author Jess Mahoney reflected, the work showed just how much potential exists beyond the capital when creative people and places are meaningfully supported:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As Cardiff\u2019s creative cluster grows in scale and renown, it will become increasingly important that we harness the wealth of emerging talent across our wider region to take advantage of new opportunities, convene new communities and build thriving, representative new creative places. Creative Industries Cluster Hubs is a first step in achieving this.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To illustrate the breadth of the work and the communities involved,\u00a0<\/span>here are some of the case studies developed through the programme.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n