Screen Yorkshire work to continue despite Creative England choosing Manchester for northern base
Screen Yorkshire has moved to reassure its regional creative company’s that it will continue as part of Creative England, which is set to have its northern base in Manchester.
According to Company’s House the main bases for Creative England, which will see the amalgamation of eight creative development organisations such as Vision + Media, Screen Yorkshire, Northern Film and Media in the North, will be in Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham.
The formal announcement of Creative England was made last week by Culture Minister Ed Vaizey.
Also listed as directors of Creative England on Company’s House are Suzie Norton, chief executive of Screen West Mildands and Paul Taylor, who is set to take on the role of CEO at Media + Vision.
The organisations involved are currently in a period of consultation over the process.
Sally Joynson, Chief Executive of Screen Yorkshire, said: "Screen Yorkshire is absolutely signed up to the Creative England initiative and the process of its formation. There will be more to Creative England than its office base, our priority is to ensure the industry in Yorkshire and Humber is properly recognised and supported in this new structure, which is operating in a very tough financial environment. We will be working with our partner screen agencies across the North to ensure the best possible outcome. Everyone will understand how it is very important that industry is consulted on these matters - that is why the industry consultation on the Creative England proposals, which will take place early next year, is so critical.”
Joynson continued: “Screen Yorkshire has been a very successful screen agency, especially in TV and film production, having financed and supported productions such as This is England 86, Red Riding, The Damned United, Andrea Arnold's new version of Wuthering Heights, Paddy Considine's Tyrannossaur, Son of Babylon and the Warp X low budget slate. Therefore we aim to play a major role in the new Creative England structure."
On announcing Creative England, Screen Yorkshire issued its support for the move in a ‘tough financial climate’, saying it understood the need for consolidation.