Exciting new funding and projects are boosting the North East’s creative scene, attracting talent and investment in film, music, and writing.
Gateshead: The Glasshouse music centre was buzzing last week. Big names were there, but not just the usual artists. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Chris Bryant, the Minister for the Creative Industries, announced a huge funding boost for the cultural sector.
They were joined by mayors, MPs, and even Tristram Hunt, the former TV historian. The Creative Industries Summit was a big deal for Tyneside. It brought exciting news: a £5 million grant for a new writing center in Newcastle and another £5 million to replace the National Glass Centre in Sunderland.
This is a great time for the North East’s cultural scene. The Crown Works studios project in Sunderland is set to attract major TV and film productions, creating thousands of jobs. North East Screen has already brought in blockbuster films, like Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later, filmed in Northumberland.
In music, Warner Brothers is planning a top-notch music studio in Newcastle. They want to keep local talent in the area. Plus, Sunderland has just been named a global music city, celebrating its rich musical history. Newcastle-Gateshead is also aiming for music city status, with the Mobo awards coming up next month.
Big names are putting the North East on the map. Sam Fender is selling out shows everywhere, and millions tuned in to see the stunning scenery in the final episodes of ITV’s Vera.
The Government’s summit highlighted that arts and culture are vital. They contribute £124 billion to the UK economy and are growing fast. With new projects kicking off, the North East is leading the charge.
Claire Malcolm, the chief executive of New Writing North, is thrilled about the writing center. She wants young people to see they can be writers and have careers in publishing and media right here. This center will change the game for creative industries in the region.
She believes the North East is proving that talent doesn’t have to be in London. The region is building partnerships between cultural and commercial sectors in exciting ways.
North East mayor Kim McGuinness echoed this sentiment. She sees this as a chance to shape the future and elevate the region. She’s focused on making creative industries central to economic growth.
They’re working on a 10-year plan to make the North East the heart of creativity in the UK.
Some early beneficiaries of the new funding include Newcastle’s Orbital FX, which received £100,000 for costume design, and Red Stamp Productions in South Shields, which got £30,000 for a new studio.
Connor Langley from Red Stamp Productions is excited about the growth. The demand for their space is huge, and they’re proud to support local filmmakers while also attracting international projects.
