A new online guide to careers in the creative industries will be launched by Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Chris Smith at Camberwell College of Arts on Monday 9 October.

The new website will allow millions of school children and college students access to the phenomenally successful guide - Your Creative Future - launched in its printed version by the Department for Culture Media and Sport, The Arts Council of England (ACE) and the Design Council in April this year.

Your Creative Future outlines the career options in boom industries like digital media, design, film and TV and the performing arts, interspersing them with the personal experiences of some of today’s creative practitioners.

The creative industries are becoming an increasingly popular career choice for young people. In a Design Council poll of more than 800 7-16 year olds at last year’s Tomorrow’s World Live Event, 36% of them chose a career in the creative industries - website or fashion design - as their dream job. By contrast only 9 children (just over 1%) chose train driver as their favourite job and 27 (3%) firefighter.

With estimated revenues of £60 billion and a workforce numbering around 1.4 million, the creative industries are fast becoming a cornerstone of the UK economy. Commenting in advance of the launch Culture Secretary Chris Smith said:

‘The creative industries offer some of the best, the most interesting and the most rewarding of careers and opportunities in these areas are set to increase over the coming years as the UK's creative industries go from strength to strength. We must ensure that we exploit all available opportunities to inform and encourage young people interested in working in these fields. Making the excellent advice offered in Your Creative Future available on the Internet is an exciting step forward to achieving this.’

Peter Hewitt, Chief Executive, The Arts Council of England said: ‘We need to identify, showcase and support new talent in the arts if we are to ensure that this country makes the most of the latent creativity in our young people. The Your Creative Future website will enable young people to discover for themselves the range and diversity of career options in the creative industries. It will offer a wealth of knowledge on the arts and arts activity, and stimulate creativity and innovation in young people throughout the school system.’

Andrew Summers, Chief Executive of the Design Council, said: ‘All the evidence shows that creative industries like design are continuing to expand at an extraordinary rate. Making this guide available to all students will help tomorrow’s employees make the most of the opportunities being created.’

ends

notes to editors

1. Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Chris Smith will be launching the Your Creative Future website at Camberwell College of Arts, Peckham Road, Camberwell, London SE5 on Monday 9 October from 0915 to 1030, with speeches at 0945. The event will be attended by careers advisors, sponsors of the project, students from Camberwell College of Arts and local school pupils.

2. Your Creative Future online can be found at www.yourcreativefuture.org

3. The Design Council is the UK’s national authority on design, working with partners in business, education and government to promote its effective use.

For media enquiries, contact Nell Cozens 020 74205273/07803 945260 or email nellc@designcouncil.org.uk

4. The Arts Council of England (ACE) is the national funding body for the arts in England. It is responsible for developing, sustaining and promoting the arts through the distribution of public money from central government and revenue generated by the National Lottery. For further information visit http://www.artscouncil.org.uk

For media enquiries, contact Viola von Harrach 020 7973 6452 or email viola.vonharrach@artscouncil.org.uk