Tech, creative and cultural industries boosted by £15m Northern fund

Northern cities and towns are set to bid for a share of the £15m Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund, to boost the region’s technology, creative and cultural industries.

Culture Secretary Karen Bradley announced the fund, which can provide money to anything from a new tech startup centre to the renovation of a live music venue.

The Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund will make grants of up to £4m available to support major culture and tech capital projects.

It builds on the back of the The Great Exhibition of the North, which will be held in Newcastle and Gateshead next summer. Set to be the biggest event in 2018, the £5m government-funded exhibition will showcase the best of Northern art, design and innovation.

Culture Secretary Karen Bradley said: “This £15 million fund is a fantastic chance for towns and cities to develop inspirational projects that could have a transformative local effect – particularly in communities that have seen less cultural or creative investment in the past.

“We want as many people as possible to benefit from the Great Exhibition of the North, and this fund will boost the Northern Powerhouse and help build a lasting legacy across the whole region.”

Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry said: “The North is a cultural powerhouse, as well as an economic one, and this £15 million fund will give a boost to the region’s vibrant culture and tech sectors.

“We’ve already invested over £3.4 billion for projects to boost local economies in the Northern Powerhouse and this latest funding will help make sure the Great Exhibition of the North creates a legacy for years to come.”

The first round of bids will be coordinated by Local Enterprise Partnerships in Cheshire and Warrington, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Humber, Lancashire, Leeds City Region, Liverpool City Region, North East, Sheffield City Region, Tees Valley, York and North Yorkshire and East Riding.

The successful projects will be announced in March 2018.