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Beckett supports creative funding boost
The Yorkshire Screen Industries Hub bid has been awarded National Lottery funding from the BFI - the lead organisation for film in the UK - through its Creative Clusters Challenge Fund, which aims to support the growth of emerging screen sector centres outside London and the South-East.
Matched by funding from a Yorkshire-wide consortium, Screen Yorkshire, in partnership with industry leaders Game Republic and Sheffield Doc/Fest, will spearhead the hub’s mission to build sustainable, long-term growth in the region’s burgeoning film, TV and games industries and maintain its competitiveness in a global industry.
The Yorkshire Screen Industries Hub will receive £127,000 through the BFI’s Creative Clusters Fund as seed funding for a plan to expand the region’s creative sector infrastructure and skills base. ‘Creating the Production Powerhouse’ is a nine-month programme of work beginning March 2016, that will identify the investment required for skills, training, infrastructure and knowledge sharing, to enable the Yorkshire and Humber region to compete globally. The BFI Award is matched by regional partners - including Leeds Beckett University - to create a total investment of £254,000.
Also investing in the Yorkshire Screen Industries Hub are the cities of Bradford, Hull, Leeds, Sheffield and York; the local authorities for Calderdale, Harrogate and Kirklees as well as five other universities – Bradford, Huddersfield, Hull, Sheffield Hallam and York.
Lead industry bodies including Creative Skillset, TIGA and UKIE are supporting the creative cluster bid alongside the four Yorkshire and Humber Local Enterprise Partnerships. Industry partners and businesses supporting the bid include Warp Films, True North, Daisybeck Studios, Prime Studios, Fettle Animation, 104 Films and Revolution Software.
Amanda Nevill, Chief Executive of the BFI said: "There's something exciting happening in Yorkshire's screen sector and there is huge potential in this dynamic region, so we're thrilled to support such a range of fantastic partners who have come together with one common goal: to ensure Yorkshire's burgeoning screen industries continue to grow and flourish. The UK's screen industries are thriving and if we are to support future growth it is vital that more areas outside London become international hubs - this support for Yorkshire is significant and we look forward to announcing further Creative Clusters in the coming months."
Leeds Beckett runs a number of courses in the creative disciplines including games design and film making. For more on our courses visit http://courses.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/