The North East has been awarded a £25 million investment aimed at boosting jobs and opportunities in the region’s creative industries, as part of a national funding programme designed to support local talent.
00:00The North East has been awarded a £25 million investment aimed at boosting jobs and opportunities in the region's creative industries,
00:08as part of a national funding programme designed to support local talent.
00:12North East Mayor Kim McGuinness announced the funding, saying that the money will help artists, musicians, writers, performers and filmmakers build sustainable careers without leaving the region.
00:23The investment is part of the Government's Creative Places Grove Fund, with the North East named as one of only six UK regions selected to receive a share.
00:33The £25 million will be rolled out over three years starting in 2026 and aims to support a range of sectors including music, film and TV, publishing, theatre and video game development.
00:45Mayor McGuinness described the move as a boost to our ambitions for culture in the North East,
00:50adding that the fund will offer practical support such as mentoring, networking and access to finance.
00:56By supporting talent not just because that creates opportunities and lets people forge new careers, she said,
01:02but because their work cuts right through our diverse communities and makes the North East a place we're proud to be from.
01:08The announcement builds on existing creative investments in the region, including support for the planned Crown Works Film Studio in Sunderland,
01:16the launch of a national writing centre and the North East's first major label recording studio in Newcastle.
01:22While many in the sector have praised the funding, some observers have stressed the importance of ensuring the money reaches grassroots organisations
01:31and individual artists who often face the greatest financial barriers.
01:36Others have pointed out that similar funds in the past have sometimes been slow to deliver measurable change on the ground.
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