RFCD 2011: Kayanne E. Anderson: Caribbean Creative Industry Clusters

Best Practice Imperatives for Creative Industry Clusters – Caribbean

Presented to the Regional Forum on Cluster Development

By

Kayanne E. Anderson Esq.

Consultant, Creative Industries

Caribbean Export Development Agency

TAKING CARIBBEAN EXCELLENCE TO THE WORLD!

Benefits of Creative Industry Clusters Important information resource

Support mechanism

Access to goods and services

Skills and Knowledge spill-over

Complementarities

Increased competitiveness, marketability and profitability

What makes a successful Cluster? All involved in a Cluster should:

Have the ability to work together to build competitiveness and trust;

Focus on open and honest communication;

Have a strong, focused mindset based on a positive attitude, willingness to take direction and an understanding of the greater good. PRODUCTION drives the collaboration!

What makes a successful Cluster? Ideally, successful Clusters have:

A manageable number of partners;

Functioning networks and partnerships;

A cluster leader, or dedicated facilitator;

Access to sources of finance;

Mentorship;

A global approach;

What makes a successful Cluster? Clusters often limited to non-commercial activities and not directly compete

with members’ services and products

Clusters are often heavily reliant on the time, and at times financial, commitment of a core group of members dedicated to the purpose in order to thrive

Public support is important to maintain initial operations; however initiatives should be led and undertaken by industry

Caribbean Creative Industry Clusters

How many creative clusters exist in the Caribbean? Why? Why Not?

How does the Cluster model benefit Caribbean Creative Industries?

What makes Caribbean model unique?

How can Caribbean Clusters be better supported in the face of international competition?

What are some of the best practices? Examples of success stories?

Private Sector Development Programme - Jamaica

established in 2005 to assist micro, small and medium-size businesses of Jamaica improve their competitiveness and profitability.

It was funded by the European Union and the Government of Jamaica 2006 – 2009 to cover grants and technical assistance and operated through the Jamaica Trade and Invest and Jamaica Business Development Corporation.

The PSDP Cluster Sector Initiative (CSI) evolved from work of TGCC to focus on developing and initiating cluster activities in the agro-business, services, tourism and creative industries sectors.


According to Jamaica Trade & Invest, “clusters increase the competitiveness of their members in both national and global markets by taking advantage of the collective synergies formed from its members working together.”

Members join clusters based on similar or complementary business interests. They undertake customized and sector-specific business initiatives focused on increasing the competitiveness and profitability of all its members.


JTI tells us that a well developed cluster facilitates: increased productivity and growth (through specialized inputs, access to

information, and access to public goods and key supply chain networks) market driven innovation (through cooperative research and

collaboration), new business formation and expansion a stronger lobby and advocacy


Some of the Clusters which evolved from the PSDP included: Visual and Performing Arts Jamaica Authentic Jamaican Gifts and Crafts Jamaica Fashion and Apparel Cluster Ltd. The Music Cluster

Some of the clusters isolated for the programme were originally associations, and reverted back to being associations once the programme ended.

However, a few are still operating as clusters:

Visual and Performing Arts Jamaica www.vpaj.org

VPAJ is one of 10 original clusters formed with the support of the PSDP.

An independent, non-profit organisation, VPAJ is concerned with promoting the success of its members’ enterprises and fostering collaboration within and between their respective industries

They are focused mainly on providing information and facilitating networking

Visual and Performing Arts Jamaica Jamaica's Creative Industries that VPAJ concentrate on: Writing &

Publishing, Dance, Design, Film & TV, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, and affiliated service providers.

Jamaica Reggae Industry Association JARIA also evolved out of PSDP

6th attempt at a music cluster

Run by sub-committees, including: Marketing Education CALM - Constitution, Advocacy, Lobbying and Membership These committees meet with the board and general members once a

month to discuss issues

Fashion & Apparel Cluster - Jamaica

The Jamaica Fashion & Apparel Cluster (JFAC) includes local designers, manufacturers, technical service providers, raw material suppliers, training institutions and support institutions and was formed at the end of 2007

Currently, JFAC has over 180 members

Fashion & Apparel Cluster - Jamaica Focus on:

technical and business development market penetration activities participation in international and local trade shows, expos, product

development and fashion shows workshops, lectures, training programmes for stakeholders Management structure: Facilitator, Steering Committee, Stakeholders Financial support necessary to continue

Fashion Cluster style for Jamaica Day

New Caribbean Cinema - regional http://www.newcaribbeancinema.com

New Caribbean Cinema Series intends to showcase the creative artistry from the region’s up and coming filmmakers

The series is a Caribbean co-production, jointly produced by Storm Saulter from Jamaica and Michelle Serieux from St. Lucia

“New Caribbean Cinema exists to challenge old models and to prove that in our region, innovation and ingenuity are key to our artistic expression.”

New Caribbean Cinema - JamaicaCast and crew of “Missed,” a short film by Michelle Serieux

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Caribbean Creative Clusters (C3) - Barbados

C3 is a non-profit company established in Barbados to provide the region’s creative industries with administrative, strategic, logistical and funding support to help develop and grow various sectors.

The Chrysalis Project (www.projectchrysalis.com) is one of the training programmes created through C3, with the purpose of “Building World Class Cultural Industries through the Development of TV & Film,” which is focused on providing on-the-job training in all areas of film production.

Caribbean Creative Clusters (C3) - Barbados

C3 uses an extremely simple yet effective model that operates through training, mentorship and sharing of personnel, equipment, resources based on a 3 tier model:

1. New individuals/companies;2. Semi developed companies and those exploring further growth in

other markets (export ready);3. Companies that are already successfully exporting

Flying Fish Studios - Barbados

A full service audio-visual digital technology company based in Bridgetown, Barbados with offices in Trinidad and Jamaica

They are the largest privately owned radio, television and film distribution content provider in the Eastern Caribbean.

On set in Barbados with Mr. Dale

Flying Fish Studios - Barbados

Examples of Flying Fish Studios work include:

Rihanna’s “Cheers” official music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR0v0i63PQ4&ob=av2e

And the official video from Mikey’s 2011 Crop Over Soca Monarch winning song, “Pavement Anticipation”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jgz1d83HnnQ

Challenges

CI clusters face certain difficulties that make it challenging to sustain operations: Lack of trust and support from government organizations, private sector

organizations and individuals Members contribute their own time, energy and funds to run the clusters, which

takes away from their own businesses Many do not have their own office spaces Proper funding and resources can be difficult to come by

Drivers for Successful Clusters Location! Location! Location!

Innovation as Driver

Urban Planning

Ecology of an Economy

Opportunities

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Caribbean ExportCreating a Viable Regional Creative Hub

Creative Caribbean Campuses

Creativity Parks across the Caribbean

Regional Prototyping Facility (Universities as Knowledge Hubs)

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Join us to CREATE Caribbean Inc.

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