My ears pricked up during the Chancellor's budget speech when he started talking about "creative industries and the knowledge economy" being one of the future saviours of the UK economy.
These industries include film, TV, photography, multi-media, digital media, visual arts, sculpture, dance, theatre, music... the list is endless. And these have been increasing their contribution to the UK's GDP.
The theory is that creativity is something we are good at in the UK, and there are export opportunities as well as threats from a global economy.
What's that got to do with Swindon?
Research with the local media sector identified a hunger for networking and collaboration and the cross-fertilisation of innovative ideas and creative industries - to name but a few.
In response, South West Screen and Swindon Borough Council are providing the structure to form a Swindon media cluster' for stimulating the competitiveness, productivity and innovation of small enterprises working in the film/TV and media industry.
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South West Screen are the funding and support agency for the cultural and economic development of film, TV and digital media in the south-west.
Through them, support is provided for a wide range of creative initiatives.
Their work reaches across all areas of screen creativity and production - from meeting the needs of established professionals to nurturing fresh and emerging talent, students and communities who are new to engaging with the media.
Each cluster has a unique profile in terms of the media sector businesses located in the area.
They are increasingly being recognised as a success story - in particular through their ability to catalyse the business community and attract significant other project funding.
Last year, Swindon held a Media Symposium which identified the demand locally, and the good news is that the Swindon Cluster has been given support to help it get established.
So, this is where you come in.
We want to hear from people involved in the media sector in the Swindon area who are looking for a way to get more involved with other individuals and organisations working in media locally.
To be part of this group or to find out more, phone 07751271069 or email contact@swindonmedia.org
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