£5m Funding For NI Creative Sector

A new £5 million fund for creative industries is set to develop business enterprise in Northern Ireland and to encourage its most talented people to 'shine on an international stage', Arts and Culture Minister Edwin Poots announced today.
The DUP MLA was speaking at the first Craft Northern Ireland Regional Conference in Lisburn.
The Creative Industries Seed Fund will provide direct support to emerging creative businesses, with issues such as business planning, marketing, access to venture capital, and intellectual property issues as well as start up finance.
Minister Poots said: "The creative industry in Northern Ireland is flourishing and expanding in areas such as digital media, film production, performing arts and music where there are viable business opportunities.
"I do not want the perceived barriers of business development to stifle the wonderful talent and imagination out there and that is why this fund will go some way towards encouraging the seeds of creativity to grow.
"The creative sector in Northern Ireland is extremely important, not only to economic growth, but also attracting tourism and helping to create a culture which inspires people from all walks of life," he said.
(CD)