Welcome to my website
This is a vehicle for presenting examples of my research, advisory and not-for-profit work in the arts, media, culture and ‘creative industries’
Martin Smith
About
I focus on the arts, media and entertainment sectors which loosely comprise the ‘creative economy’. My specialisms lie mainly in the fields of political economy, public policy, film business and the wider ‘creative industries’.
I aim to help clients, colleagues and students to understand the factors driving radical change in the global creative economy, in both advanced and developing countries, and to help them navigate their way through emerging new business models and the changing competitive landscape.
My background is mainly in public and regulatory affairs and corporate communications. I was formerly a partner at Brunswick LLP and ran my own consulting firm, West Bridge Consulting, for 20 years. I have for many years acted as an adviser to Ingenious Media on film and other ‘creative’ investment business, and on various education and philanthropic projects. I am a Visiting Fellow in Creative Industries at the Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship (ICCE) at Goldsmiths in the University of London.
I was a founder member of the UK Creative Industries Council in 2010 and chaired the advisory board of Creative Central Asia (a British Council initiative) 2017-20. I formerly chaired the boards of trustees of the Young Vic Theatre Company, music venue St. John’s Smith Square (in Westminster) and the London Festival of Baroque Music.
Consulting services
My clients range from trade associations, development agencies and national governments to management consultancies and private businesses.
My work focuses on the less glamorous end of the arts and entertainment industry – on investment and public policy. My expertise lies primarily in the field of what policy-makers call the cultural and creative industries, defined since 1998 as “those industries which have their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent and which have a potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property”.
My consultancy activity is project-based and is typically executed in collaboration with partners. Projects generally comprise elements of policy analysis, investor research, public advocacy and communications.
Examples of my work
I make frequent submissions to Parliamentary Committees in the UK on matters relating to the cultural and creative industries, and regularly speak at conferences and seminars.
Here are links to selected examples of my lectures, submissions, publications and presentations
