North East launches bid to be capital of creativity

The North East has launched a bid to be the centre of creativity for the writing industries.

Newcastle charity New Writing North and North East mayor Kim McGuinness are calling on the new government to invest in the region’s cultural economy and infrastructure.

The plan is to establish the first national centre for writing, based in Newcastle, to help reposition the southern and London bias of the writing industries.

The total cost of the new Centre for Writing in Newcastle is £14 million, with New Writing North asking for £5 million from the Cultural Development Fund.

Kim McGuinness said: “For too long, the North’s creative talent has been overlooked and dismissed. Almost the entire British publishing industry is based in London, and decision-making centralised in the capital.

“It’s time to abandon tired perceptions and the decades long control over funding and powers which stifles the nation’s creative potential.

“Talent is classless, but not everyone gets the opportunity to develop it.

“The North East is a powerhouse of creativity and culture and as mayor, I have made commitments to build our economy around creative industries, writing, publishing, and film.

“Doing so will transform people’s life chances, unearth hidden talent, and ensure our creative voice is heard on the national and world stage.

“Establishing the Centre for Writing in the North East is a vital first step to make that happen.”

 

• North East Mayor Kim McGuinness

 

The Centre for Writing will support writing and reading initiatives in the community as well as professional writers and publishing businesses across the North.

It will be the first centre of its kind with a cross-section of national partners from the arts, academia, media, and publishing industries.

Claire Malcolm, New Writing North chief executive said: “The cultural industries already play a huge role in our regional economy and this is growing.

“This investment would help revitalise the region, attract inward investment and help train and develop a new generation of local talent.

“I want young people here to be able to grow up to be publishers, writers, and creatives without presuming that they need to leave the North East to achieve their ambition.”

 

Pictured above: Claire Malcom, New Writing North chief executive