00:00It is tough, yeah. But we're here for the community as much as the sales. I'm not ever going to
00:08be a millionaire, but I do love doing it.
00:11Around the UK, there are significant regional variations in the issues small businesses are most concerned about today.
00:19Financial institution Novuna Business Finance reports that in the north,
00:24small businesses are most worried about being hit by rising costs from suppliers and a rise in late payments.
00:31Small businesses in the region are also the most worried about not being able to pay staff more to help
00:37them keep in line with rising living costs.
00:40Meanwhile, businesses specifically in the north-east are reportedly most concerned about the rising cost of finance.
00:47Nonetheless, the region's innate love of the arts continues to be a driving force for residents.
00:53We're here the second Saturday hour of every month and we are called Art, Craft and Graze.
00:59And what we're about is artisan foods and all art and craft stores.
01:04So we've got all different stores here. We've got painters, we've got photographers,
01:09we've got a glass lady here who does all recycled glass.
01:13And it's all about building an artist community right here in Sunderland City Centre.
01:18We've got a lot of our people here who use recycled things or upcycle things.
01:22We've got a lot of people who don't use any plastics at all, or it's recycled glass,
01:28or we upcycle frames and candlesticks and we do all decoupage and things.
01:32It's really, really important for the sustainability of the city centre to try and do as much of that as
01:38we can.
01:38For everybody, we know how difficult things now are.
01:42And so being able to do this and help artists and artisans out is a big thing.
01:49But also when we're running workshops, we try and do upcycling, teaching sewing,
01:55teaching, you know, these old traditional things that people used to do.
01:58We're trying to bring all that to help people and save money.
02:02Speaking on the government's investment into the region's cultural offer,
02:06available from the Department for Culture, Media and Sports Cultural Development Fund back in January,
02:13North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said the North East's cultural offer is strong
02:17and steeped in the pride and creativity of our people, places and industrial heritage.
02:23She added,
02:24Now this investment means we are making it even better and helping the North East stand tall
02:29on the national and international stage.
02:32I want the world to know about our world-class arts and culture and discover our region.
02:39Yeah, I mean, I love the area.
02:41As you can tell, I'm not originally from Sunderland.
02:44I moved here, chose to move here and love it.
02:47I really love the vibe.
02:49I love the passion that's here, that kind of steadfast, like, and how people pull together.
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