Digital Womens Network

This inspiring scheme will provide financial support to new Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) working in the creative industries across the North East.

The scheme is run in partnership with The Prince’s Trust and receives funding from Arts Council England, North East, One NorthEast and the European Union until March 2008. It aims to increase the number and sustainability of new creative business and encourage job creation across the North East. The scheme covers a variety of sectors: advertising, architecture, the art and antiques market, crafts, design, designer fashion, film and video, interactive leisure software, music, performing arts, publishing, software and computer services, and television and radio.

Commenting on the launch Mark Robinson, Executive Director of Arts Council England, North East said: ‘Cultural Business Venture has had some fantastic successes so far - people like designer Scott Henshall who've gone on to great things. We hope this refocused scheme will help other talented people start new businesses that will flourish and grow. It's a great sign of the vitality of the arts that One NorthEast are prepared to help us invest in this way.’

 The scheme is part of a larger programme of investment providing support for creative businesses who find it difficult to access traditional sources of advice, training and funding. The scheme provides grants of up to £6,000 for capital expenditure with some funding available for specific revenue costs such as marketing and promotion.

Commenting on the scheme Paul Crozier, Creative Industries Business Adviser at Business Link said: ‘I have been working as a creative industries specialist in the Business Support arena for nearly six years now and the Cultural Business Venture scheme has proved to be one of the most successful and effective grant schemes that I have seen in all of that time.’

The original programme started in 1999 and supported new and established creative businesses. Over this time it has provided approximately £5 million of support to Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) working in the creative industries across the North East. This funding has supported 805 businesses, created 730 new jobs, helped to create 608 new businesses and safeguarded 530 existing jobs.

‘The Cultural Business Venture grant was extremely useful to us at a time when our business was still new and finding its feet. The grant helped us to move into some new areas, expand our business and eventually to take on more staff.’ said Niel Bushnell, Managing Director, Qurios Entertainment Limited.

For an information pack and for further details contact Arts Council England, North East on phone 0845 300 6200, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.artscouncil.org.uk

For further information, please contact Laura Hannaway, Assistant Officer, Communications, Arts Council England, North East on 0191 255 8572 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it