Cornerstone Arts

Cornerstone Arts within the Hidden Creative Economy
Our research has identified a major sub-sector within the creative industry that exemplifies the level of exclusion that currently exists. This sub-sector has been identified by Creative Inclusion as the Hidden Creative Economy and the activity within it has been termed as “Cornerstone Arts”.

In the thesis “From Underground To Mainstream” a cycle of cultural development has been identified that starts within excluded communities and gradually transcends into the mainstream. At their earliest stages, outputs and proceeds from this activity remain hidden from the mainstream.

However, as communities evolve, their Cornerstone Art Forms gradually become the make up of mainstream creative activity. This may take between 5 – 15 years as we see from the following examples:

* Music: DJs that used to play in illegal “shubeens” and raves, are now a part of the national musical curriculum in schools
* Fashion: Dreadlocks were once only adorned on the heads of Rastafarians in Jamaica. Dreadlocks is now an acceptable hairstyle amongst various walks of life and communities.
* Film: Underground rap and comedy club performers, becoming Oscar winning actors and stars of block buster film productions.

Having identified the progression of the Hidden Creative Economy from underground to mainstream, Creative Inclusion is now seeking to find ways to have this progression fast tracked. In so doing, the creative outputs and revenue streams of more communities can become part of the mainstream.