North of Tyne Grant Announcements: Round 1

A range of grant options are available via Creative UK’s North of Tyne Programme. These grants enable enterprises to build upon their creative and commercial ideas, creating opportunity for them to become more sustainable or grow their business.

Round 2 is now open. Read the guidelines to find out more about our grants of up to £5000 and strategic grants of up to £25,000, and how to apply. Deadline is 14 July 2022 at midday and applicants will be notified in August.

Larger grants of up to £25,000 are available to support enterprises at a more strategic level. Round 1 recipients include:

Southpaw Dance Company
https://southpawdancecompany.co.uk/
Southpaw Dance Company creates dance theatre across all contexts: small to large scale, indoor and outdoor audiences, touring and site-specific, with professional and community casts; accessible work with a distinctive choreographic vision connecting compelling narrative with explosive physicality.

“We are so thankful to be recipients of this amazing grant. While the pandemic has obviously had a huge impact on our sector, there has also been learning and growth in diversifying the offer of creative companies like ours; this grant will help us continue to develop our digital capacity, particularly within innovative immersive technologies, and deepen our understanding of improving access to culture across multiple platforms.” – Robby Graham, Director / Choreographer, Southpaw Dance Company

Tull Stories
https://tullstories.co.uk/
Tull Stories is an independent film distribution and cinema support agency who places independent films in cinemas and online, and help cinemas find their audiences.

“I’m delighted to have been offered this support from the North Of Tyne Culture & Creative investment Programme. It will prove invaluable in helping me develop my film support agency Tull Stories. Tull Stories is a business from the north east, and one firmly cemented in the fabric of the north east. With this support we’ll employ north east talent to help deliver its aims and help develop the region’s film and cinema ecology even further.” – Jonny Tull, Founder, Tull Stories

Boho Arts
https://www.bohoarts.co.uk/
Boho Arts is a new charity, on a mission to lease and transform an unused, unloved property into a much loved, accessible creative arts hub in Newcastle. It’s in response to the very real problem of lack of workshop, rehearsal, and office space for artists in Newcastle – that’s affordable, easy to get to, and accessible.

“As a new charity with a mission to open an accessible creative hub in Newcastle, and having identified a potential property, Creative UK helped springboard our campaign by providing a grant for a feasibility study. The results of this study of the property, and of the arts community and prospective service users, will provide the foundation of our strategy for sustainability and growth. Working with Carol and Julia from Creative UK has been a great experience as they really get behind you and are only a phone call away when you need advice. Our project came about as we feel it is so important to retain and develop talent here by providing the space needed for it to flourish, and it feels like Creative UK and North of Tyne have that firm belief too, by listening to us, and providing the support we needed, when we needed it.” – Bev Fox, Founder, Manager, Volunteer, Boho Arts

Enchanted Isles
Twice BAFTA-nominated Enchanted Isles is the North East’s first truly-international-facing high-end film and television drama production company which currently enjoys a first-look development deal with the BBC, having delivered films for streamers and broadcasters including Amazon, the BBC and Canal+.

Grants of up to £5,000 are available to fund targeted activity addressing resilience and/or growth. Round 1 recipients include:

The Six Twenty
https://thesixtwenty.com/
Setting fire to what theatre can be. Bringing people together for a great night out. The Six Twenty (TST) is an innovative theatre and creative projects company based in Newcastle. They are a female led organisation who works with a highly-skilled multidisciplinary team of creative freelancers and partners.

“This grant comes at a pivotal time for The Six Twenty as we begin to grow our core team and develop our work with local communities. We’re really excited to have this opportunity to explore new ways of working, different business models and fundraising opportunities. It’s brilliant to have the support and expertise of Creative UK in the North East.” – Melanie Rashbrooke, Artistic Director & CEO, The Six Twenty

Arcus Studios
https://arcusstudios.co.uk/
Arcus Studios is a 2D Animation Production Company based in Newcastle Upon Tyne that creates broadcast animation, promotional videos, video installations, inhouse original content and develops new IP. They have produced work for the likes of CBBC and E4, partnering with local and national agencies and bringing outdoor events to life with spectacular animation based art installations.

“Having been part of the Evolve Scheme in 2019/2020 we have trusted CE (now Creative UK) to be a guiding light for our company expansion and this small grant will be a great help towards enabling one of our Children’s Animation series on our slate being considered by major UK Broadcasters, who need to also see that willing investment from ourselves and others in that IP and our regional talent!  A rising tide lifts all ships and these grants will hopefully start to make a real difference in our creative industries sector in the North East that we are all striving to build as a sustainable and scalable resource. “ – Marc de Launay,  Executive Producer – Arcus Animation Studios.

StudioPensom
https://www.studiopensom.com/
StudioPensom is a graphic design business founded by Paul Pensom in 2018, art director of Creative Review.

“Creative UK have been generous enough to offer the studio a grant that will greatly expand our creative offering, enabling us, through new equipment and training, to explore motion design in a far greater depth than we’ve ever done before. This in turn will unlock a whole new customer base. Creative UK have been supportive and inspirational. I recommend that all creative SME’s should examine what CUK has to offer.

There is obviously a great deal of native talent in the North East — and doubtless always has been — but there is also enough clustering of creative talent going on to suggest that support for the industry at this point could have exponential results.” – Paul Pensom, Creative Director, StudioPensom

Theo W. Scott
https://theowscott.com/
Illustrator • Film maker • Artist

“Creative UK will allow me to spend more time fully focused on progressing my career in moving-image, rather than hurrying to find multiple illustration jobs to subsidize the costs of developing my portfolio. The Team at Creative UK have been very attentive, advising and organising workshops with their team in order to help me progress my practice as an Artist. I believe with more investment to the region companies like Creative UK could wake a sleeping giant, creating more opportunities to earn in the North East.” – Theo Scott, Animation Director and Illustrator.

Nosebleed Interactive
https://www.nosebleedinteractive.com/
Nosebleed Interactive is an independent video game developer headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is known for Arcade Paradise, Vostok Inc., and more.

Charlie Bramley
https://www.charliebramley.com/
Music coordinator and project manager based in Newcastle upon Tyne.