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Project is hailed for cultural support work
AN organisation which was set
up to support the North-East's
creative industries has helped
provide more than 730 jobs and
safeguard at least 530 posts since
its inception nine years ago.
The Cultural Business Venture
(CBV) has invested more than
£5m in companies of all varieties,
supported more than 800 businesses
and aided the creation of
more than 600 ventures.
Funding and business advice
from CBV and its partner organisation
The Prince's Trust has
helped elevate aspiring entrepreneurs
- including fashion designer
Scott Henshall, from
Hartlepool - on to the international
stage.
The project - funded by Arts
Council North-East, regional
development agency One North-
East and the European Regional
Development Fund - was set up
in 1999 to support business startups,
growth and achievement.
However, CBV comes to a close
at the end of this month, but its
achievements have been hailed
as a "massive success".
Mark Robinson, executive director
of Arts Council North-
East, said the CBV had played an
important role during what has
been a crucial time for the region's
creative economy.
Speaking at a celebration
event of CBV's achievements at
the Baltic Centre for Contemporary
Arts, in Gateshead, he said:
"During this period, the face of
the North-East has changed. In
1999, this building had a completely
different role. The stunning
building next door, The
Sage, was not there.
"It has been a defining period
for the region, and one we are
proud to have been part of, supporting
people and their businesses
at really key stages in
their development."
Mr Robinson said that businesses,
ranging from musicians
to animators and architects to
artists, had all benefited from the
project.
Through the scheme, as well as
capital and start-up costs, CBV
also covers costs of office fit-outs
or improvements, marketing and
promoting costs including websites,
logos and branding.
Jonathan Martin, creative industries
development officer for
Arts Council North-East, said the
impact of CBV had been massive.
"There is a rich and diverse
range of creative talent in the
North-East," he said. "This kind
of scheme is vital in encouraging
entrepreneurship and supporting
and nurturing creative businesses
in our region."
8:24am Friday 28th March 2008
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