Book aims to help creatives in the recession

Creative & Cultural Skills is sending thousands of creative businesses a book about the effect of the recession on the creative sector.

Creative & Cultural Skills is sending thousands of creative businesses a book about the effect of the recession on the creative sector.

After the Crunch was designed by Elmwood and illustrated by Paul Davies. Elmwood chairman Jonathan Sands has contributed to the collection of 42 essays, which examines how the credit crunch has affected the creative industries.

Elmwood was appointed following a four- or five-way credentials pitch and briefed to produce the book within six weeks. ‘It was a very tough brief with very little budget,’ says After the Crunch editor Shelagh Wright.

The book also includes articles by London Design Festival director Ben Evans and Graven Images creative director Janice Kirkpatrick.

‘We wanted it to be interesting to read and make people want to pick it up, so we didn’t want academic essays,’ says Wright.

‘We also thought it better to get a whole range of people from across the creative sector internationally, to achieve a broad perspective. No one has the answers or is even asking the right questions at the moment, so we want to get people thinking further.’

The British Council is inviting creative industry professionals to contribute ideas online in response to the issues raised in After the Crunch.

‘It can be anything from a doodle on the back of a napkin to an essay, as long as it’s under 1000 words,’ says Wright.

The resulting ideas and essays may later be collected into a follow-up book.

To contribute, visit www.creative-economy.org.uk.

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