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CREATIVE ECONOMY, CULTURE & DIGITAL

South West Wales is already home to lots of creative people and businesses, and we are a region of poets, artists and performers, with many famous alumni. 

It’s these strengths we need to build on as we set out to develop our Creative & Digital Economy in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea.  The creative industries are one of Wales’ top performing sectors, with the potential to provide exciting, rewarding and attractive career opportunities, and to contribute significant wealth into our regional economy.

Places with a strong creative economy are also more exciting places to be.  Creativity makes life more beautiful and more interesting.  It’s through investment in creativity that we can breathe fresh life into our high streets and town centres.  And as individuals, access to creative expression is a great tool for improving our well-being, making us happier and connecting us with others. 

That’s why our alliance is working to strengthen South West Wales’ creative and cultural ecosystem, and why we want you to get in touch with your projects and ideas.

“Access to talented and creative people is to modern business what access to coal and iron ore was to steel-making…  Economic growth is driven by creativity, so if we want to increase it, we have to tap into the creativity of everyone.”

OUR ACTIVITY

4theRegion has established a network of more than 200 creative people and organisations right across South West Wales, representing businesses, community groups and academia.  Collectively, we share an aspiration to grow and strengthen the sector, and amplify the many opportunities for jobs, careers and new start-ups in this fast changing sector.  Our regional USP is our shared commitment to the wellbeing of people, places and the planet – and an emphasis on how our creative industries can contribute to this important agenda.

We think culture, art and creative entrepreneurship should be at the heart of Swansea city centre’s regeneration strategy.  Alongside landmark new developments like the Arena and Digital District, we want to nurture the existing cultural fabric of the city. 

That’s why we’ve been working to connect the city’s creative people, businesses and organisations, to develop an eco-system of support and collaboration so that creativity in all it’s forms can flourish.

And now, through our projects in communities along the railway, we’re working to amplify the creative and cultural distinctiveness of local places throughout the region.

07/02/23

CREATIVE & DIGITAL FEBRUARY SECTOR FORUM — 07/02/2022
At this month’s Creative Economy sector forum, we brought ideas and actions captured from our Swansea Creative Focus event back in November. There’s an appetite to support a creative network for our region. So how can we make a proposal for Creative Wales and what would it look like? What could we propose to Creative Wales and how would it benefit the region?
EVENT RECORDING

12/01/23

ART, CULTURE & THE WELLBEING ECONOMY
Wellbeing Economy Wales (WEAll Cymru) brought together artists and cultural practioners from across Wales to reflect on the value of art and culture in a wellbeing economy.  You can catch up on this important and inspiring discussion via the Zoom recording.
EVENT RECORDING

08/12/22

ARTS ARKADE CREATIVE MEETING WITH URBAN FOUNDRY
Urban Foundry have been commissioned to host a series of local conversations about the prospect of establishing a new Creative Network for Swansea and South West Wales.  Partners and collaborators came together at Swansea Council’s new creative hub, Arts Arkade, to hear about the establishment of Creative Cardiff, which has brought the capital’s creative businesses, graduates and organisations together successfully for a number of years, with funding from Creative Wales and others.

22/11/22

SWANSEA CREATIVE FOCUS – IN PERSON
Creative stakeholders from across Swansea came together to discuss what is needed to strengthen and promote the city’s creative economy and to support the regional creative sector.  Great to meet at the Elysium Bar and Gallery and hear about their story so far, together with ambitions for a new Elysium hub in the former JT Morgan building in Swansea City Centre.
Swansea Creative Focus | Notes

06/09/22

CREATIVE & DIGITAL SEPTEMBER SECTOR FORUM — 06/09/2022
We really believe that the creative sector has a big role to play, in creating opportunities for young people, making the region a vibrant place to live, and pooling skills and talent for the benefit of local communities!
Creative & Digital September Sector Forum | Report

05/09/22

WHAT SHALL WE CREATE?
South West Wales is home to lots of creative people and businesses. We are a region of poets, artists and performers. The creative economy is everything that relates to human creativity and ideas, IP, knowledge and technology. So how do we support creativity and innovation in the region? What shall we create?
What Shall We Create? | Blog

28/05/21

CREATIVE & DIGITAL MEMBERS FORUM — 28/05/2021
The Creative & Digital Members Forum was an opportunity for our members to talk with others about joined up strategies and potential collaborations for the greater good. What are the gaps that companies are experiencing? What innovators do they need? How do they find them? How can we connect talent and create opportunities for young people in the creative sector?
Creative & Digital Members Forum | Report

24/11/20

CREATIVE & DIGITAL MEMBERS FORUM — 24/11/2020
The Creative & Digital Members Forum was an opportunity for our members to talk with others about joined up strategies and potential collaborations for the greater good. Become a 4theRegion member to get involved in future forums!
Creative & Digital Members Forum | Report

23/11/20

DIGITAL SKILLS ROUNDTABLE
If there’s one sector that may have been resilient throughout the pandemic, it would be the digital sector. For other sectors, those who quickly embraced technology, digital skills and remote working have been in a better position compared to those who haven’t. Digital skills are a key growth sector for our region and there are many opportunities for people to find a career in the digital sector.
PODCAST | Digital Skills 

21/07/20

WHAT NEXT FOR SWANSEA HIGH STREET?
Swansea High Street has been the focus of redevelopment efforts by many creative businesses and organisations. What has been the effect on the High Street as a result of lockdown and how can we re-encourage people to safely visit once again? In this roundtable discussion, we invited High Street-based businesses to share their thoughts on transforming the area described as the gateway to the city.
PODCAST | What Next For Swansea High Street? 

27/11/19

SWANSEA CREATIVE FOCUS LAUNCHES ON HIGH STREET
Swansea High Street has been the focus of redevelopment efforts by many creative businesses and organisations. What has been the effect on the High Street as a result of lockdown and how can we re-encourage people to safely visit once again? In this roundtable discussion, we invited High Street-based businesses to share their thoughts on transforming the area described as the gateway to the city.
Swansea Creative Focus Launches on High Street

09/11/19

SWANSEA CREATIVE QUARTER CLUSTER
Following our Creative Quarter Roundtable in September 2019, a group of 4theRegion Changemakers has been meeting on a weekly basis to take forward some of the ideas we discussed.  We know that creating a vibrant, creative, inclusive Swansea is key to achieving our economic and social goals for the region.  Our mission is to make Swansea City Centre somewhere that people want to be, by involving everyone, engaging communities, and unleashing the talent and potential of people.
Swansea Creative Quarter Cluster

23/09/19

SWANSEA CREATIVE QUARTER ROUNDTABLE 2019
The creative quarter round table meeting arose out of the Swansea City Centre Conference run by 4theRegion in April 2019. The intention was to look at what else can be done to keep the momentum up on Swansea High Street. What can we, as business owners, organisations and passionate individuals do to improve the area, visually and socially, increase footfall and make it a destination for Swansea residents and visitors to the city?
Swansea Creative Quarter | Event Report 

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