The British government has unveiled a £60 million ($73 million) package to support growth across the creative sectors, being announced at Friday’s Creative Industries Growth Summit in Gateshead.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is presenting the funding plan to more than 250 creative businesses and cultural leaders at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music.
The package includes $48.7 million allocated for the next fiscal year, targeting film exports, video game startups, grassroots music venues, and creative enterprises outside London. The British Business Bank will increase its support for the sector, which currently contributes more than $150 billion to the U.K. economy.
The funding includes $19.8 million for the Create Growth Program, $6.7 million for the U.K. Games Fund, $8.5 million for the U.K. Global Screen Fund, and $1.9 million for the Music Export Growth Scheme. Four cultural projects will share $19.7 million from the Cultural Development Fund.
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The government has designated 11 priority regions for creative development, including Greater London, Greater Manchester, and the Edinburgh-Dundee corridor. Six Mayoral Combined Authorities will receive additional funding, with amounts to be determined in the upcoming Spending Review.
Representatives from Netflix, Spotify, Warner Bros., the National Theatre and British Museum are at the summit, which marks the first step toward delivering the Creative Industries Sector Plan, part of the U.K.’s modern industrial strategy.
“From film and fashion to music and advertising, our creative industries are truly world-class and play a critical role in helping us deliver on this Government’s mission to drive economic growth in all parts of the U.K.,” Nandy said. “Our £60 million funding boost will support creative and cultural organisations across the UK to turbocharge growth by transforming local venues, creating jobs, supporting businesses and spreading opportunity across the country.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves added: “Our number one mission is to grow the economy and our creative industries are a British success story with a big part to play.” Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced a new Soft Power Council to promote British culture abroad and drive investment.
Adrian Wootton, CEO of the British Film Commission, said: “U.K. film and TV is globally adored, as well as being a key sector driving UK economic growth. We’re delighted to hear DCMS’s growth plan for the creative industries, and the recognition by government of the value of film and TV to the U.K. economy. We particularly welcome confirmation of £1 million funding support for the British Film Commission.”
Ben Roberts, BFI chief executive, said: “This support from government means the U.K. can continue making globally successful film, television and screen content, contributing to our wider creative industries, the growth of the UK economy and creating jobs across the country. Supporting the U.K. Global Screen Fund has led to over 50 U.K. international co-productions and backed U.K. screen companies to thrive internationally.”
The complete Creative Industries Sector Plan is expected to be published this spring, with additional policy announcements planned in the coming months.