Providing a glimpse into the future of the arts and creative sector in the region has been the focus of the recent Create 13 festival here at York St John.

The annual event showcases the work and talents of Faculty of Arts undergraduates. From theatre, dance, choreography and music to creative writing, product design, film, TV and fine art, I was impressed as always by the quality of work on display.

The arts and creative sector represents a significant percentage of our region’s economy. In 2008, figures from the York and North Yorkshire Creative Industries Network put the percentage of creative businesses in the region at 5.6 per cent – and rising – equating to more than 2,000 creative businesses and 11,000 creative employees.

I’m fortunate enough to regularly see some of those success stories in action. The Aesthetica journey – developing a global arts brand with a combined online and print audience in excess of 100,000 people worldwide; an acclaimed magazine exported to 18 countries and stocked by leading national retailers and cultural venues; and a short film competition that has evolved into a short film festival, now in its third year; all from a base here in York – is undoubtedly a flagship.

Seeing the work of local artists – including York St John graduate Susanne Davies – feature prominently in high profile projects in the city is also hugely encouraging, and testament to the calibre of work being produced in the city. Susanne’s suspended artwork, installed in the City of York Council's new West Offices headquarters building and comprising hundreds of coloured wires in an atrium stretching between the three floors of the building, is simply stunning.

What I find even more inspiring is the way in which the creative community collaborates. Creative agency The Beautiful Meme recently hosted York St John fine art graduate and conceptual artist Clare Nattress as an artist in residence.

The agency’s creative director, Tom Sharp, says the experience was incredibly valuable, providing opportunities for the agency to offer something unique to its clients, giving Clare free artistic reign on commercial briefs and providing scope for Clare and the agency's team to learn from one other.

These stories, and this year’s Create festival, reinforce just how much talent we have right here on our doorstep; and how important it is that we continue to engage with local creative businesses, helping them tap into that talent to fuel the continued growth of the region's arts and creative industries.