Insider Media Limited

Screen WM, the West Midlands’ regional screen agency, has welcomed the government's decision to create an umbrella organisation for all English screen agencies. Screen WM, which provides funding for projects filmed in the region, including BBC series Hustle, will now work under Creative England. The move will enable the organisation to continue in operation after the closure of its main funding body, Advantage West Midlands (AWM), in 2012.

The agency, which provides funding for the region’s creative projects, will now fall under the Creative Central organisation. Creative Central will work alongside its North and South counterparts to provide funding for regional projects.

Suzie Norton, chief executive of Screen WM, said that she was confident in the new hub’s ability to “generate key economic growth in our local creative sectors”.

Norton added that 2011 will be “a year of transition” for the regional screen agencies as they adapt to the new umbrella system.

Screen WM provides funding for digital media projects, feature films and festivals amongst other creative projects.

At the Creative England launch yesterday, John Newbigin, chairman of the regional screen agency network Screen England and newly-named Chair of Creative England, said: “Over the past months, Screen England has worked closely with the coalition government to map out the best course of action to secure a strong future for film and the wider creative industries outside of London. We are pleased to say that in the Creative England structure, we believe we have arrived at a framework that will deliver effective and streamlined support to the regions via a new hub and spoke network.

“Digital convergence is accelerating, and our creative industries need to adapt at a time when it is more important than ever that public investment is made to work harder and reach further. Creative England will increase delivery and reduce costs, whilst retaining local resonance across the country. The business plan for Creative England will be open to full industry consultation in the New Year.”

Newbigin said the government had recognised that there “needs to be local support for film and the wider creative industries outside of London” but is also “responding to the need to find savings across the board in the current challenging climate”.

He said: “Creative England will provide a responsive local infrastructure of business support and talent development whilst making efficiency savings and streamlining costs incurred under the current regional screen agency structure.”

Screen WM recently unveiled a joint investment venture with Channel Four and AWM worth £10m, to provide funding for digital and online projects. Through the agreement, Screen WM secured an additional £1.3m support package, and will become one of the commissioning hubs for the project, 4iP.