How CreateKX came into beingHow CreateKX came into being
In 2003, the London Development Agency, with the King's Cross Partnership and Camden and Islington Councils, commissioned a review by creative advisers David Powell Associates on the extent of creative talent in King's Cross. The review revealed there were around 300 Creative and Cultural Industries in the area, and nearly 850 more on its fringes. Many small businesses felt isolated, because networks were fragmented and information and advice difficult to find.
The review of Cultural and Creative Industries in King's Cross recommended that artists and creative businesses could best be supported by:
Specialist business advice and information
Building long-term partnerships, focused on skills development and local employment opportunities
Developing a cross-borough partnership to help secure a long term Higher Education presence at King's Cross
Support for affordable creative industries workspace provision, in order to keep creative and cultural businesses in the area and to attract new creative talent
With financial assistance from Creative London at the London Development Agency, and support from Camden and Islington Councils, a leadership network was formed to champion the needs of the creative sector and help secure resources to realise the sector's potential. This is CreateKX.
A Creative and Cultural Industries Review
Summary
A Creative and Cultural Industries Future for Kings Cross?
Creative and cultural businesses have an important role to play in the development of KingsCross Central, its surrounding "fringe" and the nearby neighbourhood areas. Kings Cross has about 300 such companies within the SRB area, and nearly 850 more on its fringes. Most of these are design and visual businesses (architecture and contemporary arts and crafts/antiques) media and digital companies (advertising, software and computer services and publishing); and there are significant numbers of music and performing arts companies.