A GROUP of Russian visitors has come to Huddersfield to see what makes the town such a hub of creativity.

A delegation of professors from the Urals State Academy of Applied Arts in Ekaterinburg – Russia’s third-largest city – came on a fact-finding mission.

They want to learn about how Huddersfield developed its creative industries and hope to re-create the success when they return to the Urals.

Huddersfield has recently been ranked as the 13th most creative place in Britain – and the most creative town – in a national survey by The Future Laboratory.

The Russian visitors have come here through links forged with Huddersfield University’s School of Art, Design and Architecture.

They looked at how subjects including spatial, industrial and fashion design are taught at the university and how students are helped into jobs or further training.

Emma Hunt, dean of the School of Art, Design and Architecture, said: “The university works closely with the council and organisations across Kirklees to highlight the excellent opportunities that are on offer in this area.”

The Russian delegates toured the university facilities – including the new Creative Arts building on the Queensgate section of the ring road – which is due to open this summer.

They also visited the Media Centre on Northumberland Street and were given presentations by centre workers and Creative Industries Development Agency (Cida), which promotes the creative sector in Huddersfield.

The group also plans to visit cultural quarters in Leeds and Sheffield.

The Russians’ visit is a forerunner of Huddersfield University’s Creative Clusters Summer School, which will be launched next summer.

It will focus on the topic of leadership within the local and regional creative sector.

It will be based at the university but include visits to projects in Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and Wakefield.

It has been developed by the university, creative conference organisers Creative Clusters, The Media Centre, regeneration agencies Integreat Yorkshire and Yorkshire Forward, Kirklees Council and Cida.