North East Combined Authority – Culture and Devolution

Culture Devolution:

The North East Deeper Devolution Deal 2024 provides North East CA with new powers and budgets and greater control over the key drivers of local growth. As part of these plans, North East CA will establish a Culture and Creative Sector Catalyst: a vehicle to attract investment and support growth in the cultural and creative sectors, supported by joint work with government agencies to create a Blueprint for culture, the creative industries, heritage, sport, and the visitor economy. The government will work with the North East in establishing the region as a hub for digital, creative and music industries. This will build on considerable collaborative work to strengthen cultural and creative sector growth in the region – such as North East Screen, the North of Tyne Culture & Creative Innovation Fund, Sunderland’s Culture House initiative, Durham’s Place Labs approach and the role of publishing and music as key economic sectors in Newcastle, including the commitments from EMI and Warner to establish a North East base. 

Autumn 2024 Budget:

The Government is implementing an integrated settlement for North East CA from the start of the 2026-27 financial year. £25 million funding for North East CA has been confirmed, which they plan to use to remediate the Crown Works Studio site. This will support the North East’s creative industries and is expected to lead to around 8,000 new jobs in the region. The Government is granting borrowing powers for newly established Mayoral Combined (County) Authorities and will legislate to provide the North East CA with borrowing powers across the full range of their functions.

Culture Strategy:

North East Combined Authority outline their commitment to the Cultural and Creative Sector via their Culture and Creative hub: they are backing a diverse range of business support programmes, skills bootcamps, cultural events and tourism products which will be delivered in the next few years, including:

• North East Create Growth Programme
• Creative people: skills for the culture and creative sector
• Culture and creative investment programme
• Culture and creative zones
• North East Screen

Current Culture Projects:

• North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and members of North East CA have given the go ahead to a £25 million investment in the region’s screen industry to begin preparation for Crown Works Studios at Sunderland Riverside. The completed development will create up to 8,450 jobs across the North East by 2033, building community cohesion and belonging through the investment. As the studio development and supply chain grows over the next 10 years, it is forecasted to add a potential £2 billion to the region’s economy. 
• The Mayor has committed to building the North East economy around creative industries, writing, publishing, and film – and establishing a new Centre for Writing and Publishing in Newcastle with North East CA, Newcastle City Council and Northumbria University as a vital first step, to enhance local literacy, digital skills and creative industries growth.
• The Mayor’s manifesto pledges to grow the music industry in the region, backing region-wide music events that drive the economy and supporting young people’s careers in the industry.
• Through lobbying for a new tourism levy, the Mayor proposes to fund culture, events and infrastructure to bring in more visitors.