Northumbria University and North East Mayor confirm multi-million investment in Centre for Writing and Publishing

Newcastle is poised to become a major centre for the UK publishing industry after multi-million-pound funding announcements from Northumbria University and the North East Mayor have taken the total investment in a new Centre for Writing and Publishing to £10.5 million, building on earlier awards from the government and Newcastle City Council.

Northumbria University has confirmed a £2.5 million investment in the Centre with a further £2 million set for approval from the North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness.

The Centre for Writing and Publishing – which has already received £5 million of funding from the Government's Cultural Development Fund, and £1 million from Newcastle City Council – will create a hub for the publishing industry in the North, bringing writers, publishers, academics, students, the creative industries and the wider public under one roof.

As the producer of the largest number of creative industries graduates in the region, Northumbria University is committed to investing in the cultural and creative industries, providing real opportunities for students through a distinctive, employment-focused approach. Studying alongside publishing companies will provide students with opportunities to develop careers in the industry in the North East.

Working with the charity New Writing North, Northumbria University is a founding partner of the Centre for Writing and Publishing, which will create a new hub for the publishing industry in the North, bringing students, academics, writers, publishers, the creative industries and the wider public under one roof.

Planned to launch in 2029, the Centre will become home to Northumbria's English, Creative Writing and Publishing undergraduate and Masters courses – giving students and emerging writers from the North meaningful access to a publishing industry that has traditionally been centred around London. The University already runs an innovative MA Publishing degree in partnership with leading international publisher Hachette UK and New Writing North.

The Centre for Writing and Publishing will create significant opportunities for impactful research, positioning Northumbria as a national and international leader with a growing global reputation for writing and publishing.

It will also house start-up, commercial and charitable publishers, businesses and organisations, as well as an audiobook production studio, creative space for TV and film producers and developers, a café, independent bookshop and event spaces.

The investments from the University and the North East Mayor will bring the funding total achieved to date to £10.5 million. This will enable the purchase and redevelopment of a permanent home for the Centre which will enable connections and collaboration to strengthen the region's creative sector, attracting inward investment and boosting the local economy.

The Old Post Office – a Grade II listed building facing Newcastle Cathedral on St Nicholas Street – is the intended home of the Centre, subject to agreement.

Professor Andy Long, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University said: “The creative industries are one of the eight priority sectors in the Government's Industrial Strategy and a key focus for Skills England – and the Centre for Writing and Publishing is a flagship project that puts Northumbria University and the North East at the heart of that national ambition.

“The University is committed to investing in things that make a difference. The Centre will provide Northumbria students with exceptional opportunities for experiential learning, projects, placements and networking with commercial and independent publishers, cultural and creative arts organisations and independent writers and artists.

“It will open doors for careers in the publishing industry and beyond, further evidence of Northumbria's commitment to ensuring all students graduate with the skills, connections and confidence needed for their future careers.

Professor Long added: “By investing in this Centre, Northumbria will be playing a leading role in building a world-class creative industries cluster right here in our region, channelling investment and opportunity into an area with exceptional talent and attracting more industry partners to the region. This is a key element of our social mobility mission to create opportunities for all.

“It will provide wider engagement with writing and publishing industries for local people – especially those from underrepresented communities – and address regional imbalances in the writing industries.”

Alongside other funding already awarded, a further £2m from the North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, is set for approval this month.

Mayor Kim is already investing in growing the creative industries in the region and this proposed funding will further enable the development of the infrastructure to boost skills, opportunities and jobs for aspiring creatives, from future novelists to screenwriters.

North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness said: “We have so many creative talents in the North East but for too long there haven’t been the opportunities they deserved. I have promised to fix that.

“This week we have confirmed groundbreaking projects that will establish the North East as a powerhouse for creative industries, providing our young people with world-class opportunities to develop their talents and their careers right here in the region.

“With this investment, we will take a step closer to securing a home for the Centre and opening the doors to opportunities for the next generation of writers, publishers and creatives that will share our region’s stories.”

Claire Malcolm, founder and Chief Executive of New Writing North said: “We are delighted that our longstanding partnership with Northumbria University has resulted in the co-founding of a Centre for Writing and Publishing. Their partnership on this project has enabled significant investment to be brought to the North East, and they share our high ambitions for the region's creative industries.

“Building on the funding from Newcastle City Council, this ambition is matched by Mayor Kim McGuinness who has backed the creative industries in the region from the start, identifying the massive contribution they can make not just to the region's economy but its global profile.

“Writing underpins not just publishing but film, TV, audio, gaming, music, theatre, news and media. The Centre will enable great writing to happen here in Newcastle. A high-quality skills and development offer for writers and a dynamic public programme in the Centre will show aspiring writers, children and young people that they can have a sustained and successful creative career in the region.”

Leader of Newcastle City Council, Cllr Karen Kilgour, said: “It’s great news that Northumbria University and the North East Combined Authority are helping to fund this special project that will create jobs and boost our economy.

“Once it’s up and running, the Centre for Writing and Publishing will make Newcastle a superpower city for writing and publishing.

“It will offer residents opportunities to get involved in writing and nurture new talent. It’s a great example of partnership working in our region and will benefit creatives and freelancers as it brings together publishers and professionals.”

Northumbria University has long been established as a key contributor and supporter of the North East's thriving cultural landscape. With experiential learning underpinned by world-leading research in design, art, film, fashion and more, the University attracts thousands of creative students to the region, many of whom stay on after graduation, building and driving the region’s globally significant cultural offer.