Global economic and technological change is affecting the continued growth of the NSW economy and it is reported that almost half of Australian jobs are at risk of computerisation over the next 20 years. To survive, and ultimately to flourish, the workforce of the future will need the skills of the creative industries: creativity, entrepreneurship, social and emotional intelligence and technical ability.
The creative industries is an exciting growth area and extends beyond analogue forms of creative industry to include digital creative technologies such as app development, film making, architecture, landscape design and more.
Currently NSW has the largest and most diverse creative economy in Australia and the NSW Government has identified creative industries as a growth area to support. Leading the way in this area Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise (BMEE) continues to work with the creative industries to leverage opportunities for additional growth in the future.
With 8 per cent of the Blue Mountains population working in the creative industries – almost twice the state average, the Blue Mountains is a creative industries hotspot. This year BMEE will continue to build on the great work already done until now, with some exciting things planned. BMEE will be continuing the successful monthly MTNS MADE Salons on the third Wednesday of the month in Katoomba with the first for the year on February 21. In addition BMEE is launching an exciting series of monthly events in the Lower Blue Mountains with Lower Mountains creatives driving the movement.
BMEE’s creative industries cluster manager, Ann Niddrie, has been working closely with industry to deliver a wide range of results for the creative industries sector, in addition to advocating at all levels of Government and building on BMEE’s impactful MTNS MADE campaign and online directory.
Having built traffic to the website to up to 1900 unique visitors per month, and with an active Facebook Group of over 1600 members, the MTNS MADE directory and industry focussed campaign are promoting the Blue Mountains’ creative professionals, as well as connecting them to each other, with various projects being realised due to connections made by engaging with MTNS MADE.
MTNS MADE showcases the world-class talent in the Blue Mountains by telling the stories of the creatives who live here across numerous social media and traditional publishing platforms, driving traffic back to the online directory and creating opportunities for potential clients to engage the creative industries professionals from the Blue Mountains.
BMEE is led by industry, and research conducted by BMEE showed that leveraging opportunities within the film industry would produce benefits that impact the Blue Mountains community and flow on to surrounding regions. Following a successful film industry evening and resulting submission to the inquiry into the Australian film and TV Industry in 2017, Ms Niddrie is working with the local film industry to further leverage off the 13 recommendations made in the final report, throughout 2018.
To find out more about MTNS MADE or to make a free listing go to www.mtnsmade.com.au and for information about the events coming up visit www.bmee.org.au.
Bernie Fehon is CEO of Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise