Creative businesses, freelancers and entrepreneurs in South Tyneside could benefit from new opportunities following the launch of the North East Culture, Creative Industries, Heritage and Sport Strategic Framework 2026-2036, which sets out plans to grow the region’s creative economy over the next decade. The framework aims to create 10,000 new jobs, support more than 8,000 businesses and freelancers to scale up, and attract more than 10 million visitors to regional events and cultural venues by 2036.
Backed by more than £100 million of investment, the strategy outlines how the North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority will work with industry partners to grow culture, creative industries, heritage and sport across the region. It focuses on creating jobs, supporting business growth, developing skills and talent, and increasing investment in the North East.
For South Tyneside businesses, the framework highlights opportunities across the creative, digital, cultural, tourism and visitor economy sectors, alongside investment in skills development, innovation and business growth support. Planned programmes include support for creative businesses to access funding and investment, adopt new technologies, develop innovative products and reach new markets.
North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness said:
“For too long, talented people have had to look to the capital for good careers, and we’re changing that, creating opportunities for local people, here in the region.”
“We’re already backing our creative sector, from funding new training opportunities and supporting venues to building film studios in Sunderland. This is about creating more opportunities for young people, more support for talent, more events, more visitors, and more reasons to be proud of where we live.”
Investment already underway includes support for arts, culture and music venues through the North East Mayor’s Small Venues Fund, the £11 million Events Fund, and the development of Crown Works Studios in Sunderland, helping to create jobs, strengthen supply chains and attract inward investment across the North East.
Councillor Sanderson, Leader of Northumberland County Council and North East Cabinet Member for Home to a Growing and Vibrant Economy, said:
“The North East is full of talent, it’s full of wonderful institutions from big museums to small grassroots venues, all places where creativity, culture and leisure flourish. This is bringing together everything that’s already great about our region, and empowering the next great ideas.”
Businesses interested in learning more about the framework and planned investment can visit the North East Creates programme page: https://www.northeast-ca.gov.uk/north-east-creates
