Essex Creative Sector Survey

21 May 2025

Do you work in the cultural and creative industries in Essex? Would you like to see greater powers, more funding and further advocacy for the creative industries?

If you’re a creative worker, business owner, or freelancer - or your work supports the creative industries - Essex County Council wants to hear from you via an online survey, which is open until Sunday 8th June.

The government’s ‘Invest 2035: UK Modern Industrial Strategy’ identifies the creative industries as a key driver of economic growth and innovation in the UK.

Set against a backdrop of rapidly changing geo-political landscape, government spending reviews and proposed devolution, there are both questions and opportunities ahead for the creative industries in Essex.

As conversations continue at a local and national level, Essex County Council, through its Cultural Development Service (Culture Essex) is currently working to ensure that the cultural and the creative industries are recognised and represented as valuable and high potential growth sectors in Essex.

To make sure this support reflects the real needs of creative professionals, Essex County Council has commissioned We Made That to run a survey for those working in the creative industries. Your insights into what it’s like to work in the sector—your challenges, successes, and ambitions—will directly inform how future policy and decisions are shaped — fill in this survey.

You might work in art and design, music, theatre, dance, fashion, architecture, digital services or media and communications, or supply businesses working in these sectors.

We hope to hear from you.

Photo credits: Philipp Ebeling