Screen Yorkshire welcomes Creative England merger
Screen Yorkshire says it is backing the government's decision to merge England's nine regional screen agencies into a single body christened Creative England.
The plans were unveiled today by culture secretary Ed Vaizey, who said the new body will comprise three hubs based in the north, south and the Midlands.
In a statement Screen Yorkshire said it "welcomes the arrival of Creative England" and "in a tough financial climate understands the need for consolidation".
The agency, which has helped bring productions including Wuthering Heights, The King's Speech and The Damned United to Yorkshire, said it had long argued for closer working between the three northern agencies.
Sally Joynson, chief executive of Screen Yorkshire, said: "If the network is to embark on a radical shake up in the way it supports UK talent there must be an open, transparent process, with industry consultation at the heart of it. This is the only way we can ensure that talent, wherever it is based, receives appropriate support.
"This change does not take anything away from the achievements of the network of agencies in recent years. The challenge now is to build on the legacy of that network and deliver robust, cost effective and credible support for talent and commercial creative businesses wherever they are based."
Vaizey said the new structure would offer "the possibility of more focused support for a wider range of businesses".