A PARTNERSHIP has been formed between two of the region’s most influential organisations to help develop the North-East’s emerging reputation as a hub for artistic talent.

Business and Enterprise North- East, which runs the Business Link service, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Arts Council, to focus on how to support emerging artistic businesses that can make a significant contribution to the region’s economy.

The artistic and creative sector in the North-East has more than doubled in the past decade, and is now worth more than £2.65bn to the regional economy each year.

More than £200m of investment has already been made to developing the sector, making the region one of the UK centres for artistic and creative business.

And now, as a result of the MOU, Business Link and the Arts Council – which has previously supported creative talent including Hartlepool-born Scott Henshall, now an internationally-famous designer – will work together to establish ways in which they can further support the region’s artistic businesses.

About 6,000 businesses, employing about 60,000 people, already exist in the region’s creative sector.

Mark Robinson, executive director of the Arts Council in the North-East, said the creative economy was a critical area of development for the region, and hailed the partnership as being central to that.

“We’re delighted to be working together with Business Link to provide business support to creative industries,” he said.

“We aim to help artists and arts organisations set up and run sustainable, vibrant businesses, which in turn benefit the region as a whole.”

Andy Brown, business development manager at Business and Enterprise North-East, said: “The signing of this agreement symbolises the start of an ongoing relationship between Business Link and the Arts Council in the North- East, and one that we are sure will help drive forward the performance of businesses in the art sector, and really enhance the region’s status as a leading arts hotspot.”

Within the region, six areas have been highlighted for growth – advertising, design and brand communication, performing arts, publishing, new media, games and software, film, television and video, and music.