Creative England has today declared itself ‘open for business’, outlining details of new funding available for filmmakers in the English regions outside London, and announcing its first seven Board members and three key senior management appointments.

The new agency will, for the first time, provide joined-up support for England’s creative industries outside of London, supporting Film, Television, Games, and Digital and Creative Services.

Creative England now receives DCMS Grant-in-Aid from the BFI to support the strategic development of film in the English Regions, and is a BFI delegated body for the distribution of National Lottery funds for film.

Film funding

The Film Culture Fund will be the first scheme to open for applications on 17th October. The Fund will aim to ensure audiences have access to a wide and diverse range of film content, to deepen and enrich audiences’ experience through education opportunities, and to integrate the unique resources of regional screen heritage into wider film provision.

Funding will be aimed at organisations such as cinemas, film archives, film festivals and the non-theatrical exhibition sector (mobile cinema and film societies), for project activity including: audience development within the film exhibition sector; film education activities which are linked to and support film exhibition infrastructure (e.g. cinemas, film festivals; film societies and other platforms); the acquisition, preservation and conservation of and access to regional screen heritage.

More information is available in the Film Culture guidelines, available now at creativeengland.co.uk/film-support.

Talent Development funding will open for applications from November. There will be support for organisations and networks working with talent on a local/regional level, and for individuals, such as writers, directors and producers.

Preparations are also underway for an English regions-wide digital feature film initiative, which will provide an integrated development, production and training offer to writer/director/producer teams who have already demonstrated exceptional ability and vision in relation to their work in shorts, television, theatre and other related fields. This is planned to launch in late 2011/early 2012.

Full Talent Development funding guidelines will be made available on the Creative England website in November.

Board members

The first seven appointments to the Creative England Board are:
Alison Owen, Founder and Managing Director, Ruby Films
Andrew Chitty, Managing Director, Illumina Digital
Bill Lawrence, Executive Director, Reel Solutions
Charles Wace, Chief Executive, Twofour Group
Heather Rabbatts CBE
Jonnie Turpie, Digital Media Director, Maverick TV
Richard Klein, Controller, BBC Four

Senior management

The three senior managers appointed to lead Creative England’s three film priority areas are:
Chris Moll, Head of Talent Development
Jay Arnold, Head of Film Culture
Kaye Elliott, Head of Location and Production Services

Head of Talent Development Chris Moll, previously Executive Producer at South West Screen and architect of the iFeatures and Digital Departures feature film initiatives, will lead a national team dedicated to supporting the creative and career progression of the brightest new, emerging and established talent in the English regions. Moll will also be working closely with the BFI to ensure that the regions are central to any future national talent development strategy, and that the necessary partnerships and resources are secured to fully realise the immense creative, cultural and economic contribution that talent in the regions can make to British Film.

As Head of Film Culture, Jay Arnold will lead a national team dedicated to championing and nurturing film culture in all its variety to the benefit of audiences across the English regions. Arnold, who was previously Head of Cultural Sector Investment at Screen Yorkshire, will now work closely with the BFI to deliver Creative England’s Film Culture brief in the English regions: to grow and broaden audiences throughout England for a diversity of film and film venues, to support regional screen heritage and to contribute to increasing audience understanding and enjoyment of film through education initiatives.

As Head of Location and Production Services, Kaye Elliott will lead a national team dedicated to delivering Creative England’s Locations and Production brief: to maximise inward investment by promoting the English regions’ locations, and to provide support for film productions. Elliott, who was previously Director of Inward Investment at Vision+Media, will oversee a comprehensive production and locations service and develop the infrastructure to support and grow film production in the English regions. She will also manage Creative England’s inward investment activity, working with national partners including the British Film Commission, Film London, the national guilds and the UK nations.

Ed Vaizey, Minister for the Creative Industries, said: “This marks a new chapter for the creative industries in the English regions, which are a crucial part of the UK economy and essential for driving growth and employment. I commend the dedication and commitment of everyone that has worked so hard to get Creative England up and running, and look forward to working with the agency, particularly on the current film policy review, which is seeking to boost growth and help tackle some of the barriers to the further expansion of the creative industries.”

Amanda Nevill, CEO of the BFI, said: “The BFI is delighted that Creative England is open for business. They will be crucial delivery partners for the BFI’s Forward Plan, helping to ensure we can effectively support British film industry and culture, as well as nurturing film talent. As we welcome Creative England we also recognise the contribution of the Regional Screen Agencies, who have achieved so much during the last decade and on whose work Creative England will build and expand. We very much look forward to working in close partnership.”