Dr. James Cunningham:

I will address the Senator's point concerning the role of third level institutions. From our research in Finland and other countries, we have been looking at new modes of delivery, including shorter courses which are more tailored and focused. In my presentation I mentioned the pro-academy model in Finland. As the Senator rightly pointed out, creatives do not really like to do a lot of courses in the traditional structure. They have an opportunity to work on a business idea. If a person wants to learn something, someone in the group takes a lead. That model is innovative and could be used in an Irish context.

Professor O'Donoghue's point was about utilising the existing infrastructure in new and innovative ways. The creative hubs idea in Sweden, which has also been piloted in Northern Ireland, is about getting people to meet and interact in different places, both formally and informally.

Like any sector, business skills are required at the early start-up stage to understand the marketplace. Skills are also required as one is scaling, growing and internationalising a business. There is a real need to support that. In addition, the uniqueness of individual creativity needs to be protected as well as building the business acumen by bringing new people into the business from other sectors.

Cultural dynamos are critically important. In public or self-organised community spaces, people examine how to create different networks connecting people formally and informally. This is where new ideas are generated. In my own experience, I have found that there is a willingness to learn and be open to new ideas in the creative sector. In some ways, it operates formally, while also maintaining the informality and freedom of the sector.