Phil Redmond to lead Liverpool ‘creativity commission’

PHIL Redmond, the pioneering TV producer behind Grange Hill and Brookside, is to chair a commission which will seek to inspire creativity and innovation in the city.

The Mersey TV founder, who was also creative director and deputy chair of Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year in 2008, will head an independent review which will look at how creativity can be stimulated and nurtured; promote innovation to grow more businesses; and promote creative collaboration.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the creative sector employs almost 12,000 people across Merseyside in roles ranging from the media, publishing and ICT through to architecture, design and the performing arts.

Mayor Joe Anderson, who has set up the commission, said: “Liverpool has long been recognised as a creative city and has produced some of the world’s best writers, artists, comedians, musicians, playwrights and sports people. Whether it is arts or science, culture or business there is something in our DNA which means we have huge amounts of energy, talent and determination.

“I have asked Phil Redmond to look at what more we can do to try and take the city to the next level and make sure that current and future generations have the best possible chance of developing their full potential. The Commission will listen to the views of many of the fantastic organisations in the city and use them as a basis to develop ways in which the city can move to the next level.”

Mr Redmond said: “Liverpool has always been regarded as a ‘pool of creative talent’ and what the commission will look at is how best we harness that heritage for future growth. What is it about this particular place that created the world’s first wet dock that revolutionised global trade that in turn made it, at one time, one of the richest places on earth? How that influenced its culture so that even through economic decline it further inspired people and their ideas that then went on to have global impact: whether engineering, architecture or literature or football or shopping or music, education, science and the arts the list of Liverpool firsts continues to expand.

“Everything, in the end, comes down to an idea. And that usually means someone, somewhere has been inspired to a single act of creativity. The commission has been drawn from people with experience of developing creativity as a cultural tool and its role in social history and will be looking, above all, at what has, what does and what will continue to influence people and their ideas: then bottle it.”  

The other members of the commission are:
• Peter Salmon – Director England, BBC
• Stuart Cosgrove – Director of Creative Diversity at Channel 4
• Alastair Machray, Liverpool Echo Editor in Chief
• Sir Ken Robinson – an expert on creativity and innovation
• Dr Denise Barrett Baxendale MBE – chief executive of Everton in the Community
• Dr David Fleming OBE – Director of National Museums Liverpool  
• Aideen McGinley OBE – BBC Trust member
• Claire McColgan MBE – Director of Culture Liverpool

A final report with recommendations will be submitted to the Mayor in late spring 2015.