£3m boost for culture industries in North
A NEW £3m fund to support creative and cultural organisations across the North of England has been announced by Prime Minister Theresa May.
The funding allows arts projects and enterprises which support their local communities to apply for £150,000 of Government money. It will be offered across Yorkshire, Manchester, Cumbria and elsewhere from April next year.
It comes after Hull celebrated its title as the UK City of Culture last year with a sprawling programme of events, reportedly creating nearly 800 jobs and earning almost £220m in tourism and cultural sector investment.
Mrs May last night welcomed publishers, artists, actors, directors of art galleries and theatres to celebrate the contribution of creative industries to all parts of the UK. To showcase the sector’s success, companies including Warner Bros, bespoke shoe makers Carréducker, furniture designer Angus Ross, denim manufacturer Hiut Denim and Mourne Textiles exhibited their products in Downing Street.
The Prime Minister said: “Our creative industries are at the heart of what makes Britain great, from the big screen to the local gallery. Our films captivate audiences the world over, our fashion designers surprise and delight, our architects are shaping skylines and cityscapes on every continent.
“In publishing, in music, in advertising and more, every day our creative industries fly the flag for Britain on the global stage.”
The move follows an announcement earlier in the year that the Government will commit £11m through a Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund to support three major cultural projects in Blackpool, Bradford and the Lake District.
President of Warner Bros. Entertainment UK and Ireland Josh Berger said the company “is proud to be a part of Britain’s world-class creative industries sector as a major investor in film, television, video games, theatre, and production facilities”.