Campbell allocates first tranche of Creative Industries Fund
Thursday, 26 February 2009Arts Minister Gregory Campbell today announced the first recipients of the Creative Industries Innovation Fund.
Congratulating the first round recipients the Minister said: I welcome that funding of approximately £284,000 has been allocated so far. I look forward to the new and innovative developments for the creative sector which the fund is designed to support.
When I launched this fund last year, I stated that Creative Industries is a very important sector of the economy and has the potential to generate significant and long lasting economic benefits for Northern Ireland. This remains the position and I believe that this fund will be instrumental in the development and sustainability of the creative industries and will help the sector to cope with the economic downturn.
The economic climate may have in fact contributed to the higher than expected number of applicants to the fund, with approximately 350 applications received for the second round of funding which is aimed at Creative Businesses.”
The Minister concluded: For Northern Ireland to be successful now and in the future, we all need to work creatively and to think innovatively to stay ahead. One of the challenges facing us over the coming years is to develop the kind of creative and economic environment that will encourage our artists and creative business people to remain in Northern Ireland, as well as attracting other innovators from around the world to live and work here.
"Today’s funding announcement will go some way to establishing such an environment and I look forward to see the fund rolled out over the next two years.”
The funding, which is administered by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, was targeted at sectoral bodies for innovative initiatives which will develop the infrastructure, knowledge and people within the creative sector.
Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council said: I congratulate those who were successful in the first round of funding - Craft NI, NI Music Industry Commission (NIMIC), NI Business Innovation Centre (NORIBIC Ltd) and Belfast City Council. One of the key themes in our five-year plan is to provide the type of support artists and creative business people needed to develop and sustain a flourishing creative industries sector.”
Decisions on this round will be announced in late spring. The fund will re-open in autumn of 2009.
Notes to Editors:
1. DCAL secured £5million from the £90million Northern Ireland Innovation Fund for the establishment of the Creative Industries Innovation Fund.
2. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) administers the fund on behalf of DCAL. Over the lifetime of the fund there will be a number of calls for proposals which commenced with an initial call in October 2008 and a further call in January/February 2009.
The initial call for proposals was to Sectoral Bodies (i.e. film, craft and music organisations) only, for innovative initiatives which will develop the infrastructure, knowledge and people within the sector.
The second and subsequent calls will be targeted towards emerging creative businesses to help entrepreneurs become more competitive by providing assistance with business planning, marketing and intellectual property issues, as well as start-up finance.
The businesses supported will normally be below the threshold to become Invest NI Clients, but it is anticipated that support from the Fund will help a number to reach this level.
3. Sectoral organisations to benefit in the first allocation include:
NIMIC – provide a package including the commissioning of a comprehensive sectoral research study, website development, international marketing and showcasing programme and advanced creative skills training.
Craft NI – create best practice examples for business development and creative innovation, marketing plans, employ business development advisers and purchase equipment to be used for exhibitions, displays and retail across NI.
Belfast City Council – will participate in a key US forum for the international media industry.
NOIBIC – Awakening creative Entrepreneurism UnConference in March 09. Will have an online element and be recorded, streamed real-time and have its own virtual world presence. Creative business opportunities will be developed at local venues and across a swathe of remote and international audiences.
4. All media enquiries should be addressed to DCAL’s Press Office. Tel 028 9025 8902 or email press.office@dcalni.gov.uk
5. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
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