David Staples, managing director of Theatre Projects Consultants, will be speaking at the forthcoming Creative Clusters conference in Brighton on how new arts buildings have led to significant redevelopment and economic growth in communities.

The conference consists of a series of presentations on initiatives that support enterprise in the creative industries and examines the growth of the cultural industries and their role in economic development and regeneration.

David will examine the importance of new arts facilities in society and education and what direct economic benefits these cultural facilities can bring to a community, including the indirect and secondary benefits. He will demonstrate how arts facilities have promoted further commercial development, creating jobs and economic prosperity for communities. David will use case studies in order to prompt debate including The Lincoln Center in New York, The Lowry in Salford, Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay in Singapore and The Sage Gateshead.

David has experience in feasibility and planning studies, market analysis, and appraisal of arts organisations. He has prepared preliminary building programmes, briefed architects, undertaken theatre planning and performance equipment programmes, project planning and organisation. In 1985 David was appointed managing director of Theatre Projects Consultants. He continues to provide management consulting and financial input to projects and to direct major planning and building projects for Theatre Projects Consultants.