New Writing North's campaign for new creative hub backed by 82 professional writers

New Writing North’s campaign to urge the government to support a major new centre for the writing industries in the North has been backed by 82 professional writers, including "Wolf Hall" screenwriter Peter Straughan, 

"Vera" and "Shetland" creator Ann Cleeves and Newcastle-born Mick Herron, behind the Apple TV hit, "Slow Horses".

In an open letter, titled, "A Creative Call to Arms", the writers group has called for the culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, to back the scheme after devastating funding cuts over the past decade.

The writers have put their voice to the campaign, which was launched this summer by a coalition led by the writing development charity, New Writing North, Northumbria University and Hachette UK, and supported by the Mayor of the North East, Kim McGuinness.

The coalition is awaiting the outcome of a £5m bid with the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), which is expected to be announced at the end of October.

The investment will lead to a further £5.5m in pledges from regional partners. The new hub will be set up in a disused heritage building in the heart of Newcastle – the 1907 Bolbec Hall – located next to the Lit & Phil, the largest independent library outside London.

The open letter states: “Writing is an art that the UK excels in and it plays a major role in the Creative Industries – underpinning publishing, media, film, TV, audio and spilling over into games, music, theatre, local news and innovations in VR and AI, alongside jobs in related industries such as communications.

“For too long, the writing industries have been centred in London and the South East, creating an unbalanced eco-system, spread of jobs and barriers to those in underserved and northern communities.

“Investment in the Centre for Writing and Publishing will revitalise the region, attract inward investment and help train and develop a new generation of local talent. We want young people in the North to be able to grow up to be publishers, writers and creatives and to not presume that they will need to leave the region to achieve their ambitions.”

The UK’s publishing industry contributes £11bn overall to the economy.

Signatures include local authors David Almond, who grew up on a council estate in Felling on Tyne, close to Newcastle, and the Booker Prize-winning novelist Pat Barker who was born to a working-class family in Thornaby-on-Tees and who now lives in Durham.

The open letter has also been backed by Benjamin Myers, David Peace and the poet, Ian McMillan. It has also attracted support from across the UK, such as the Brighton-born crime writer Peter James, the Scottish crime author Val McDermid, and the London novelist, Louise Doherty, and has been supported by Newcastle musician Paul Smith of Maximo Park.

Claire Malcolm, c.e.o. of New Writing North, said: “The huge outpouring of support from professional writers up and down the country is incredibly welcome. We’re proud to lead the development of creative writing and reading in the north, and know first-hand the transformative power it has. Investment into a new centre of national import will help revitalise the region, attract inward investment and help train and develop a new generation of local talent.”

McGuinness said: “The north-east of England is a powerhouse of creativity and culture and, as mayor, I have made commitments to build our economy around creative industries, writing, publishing and film. Doing so will transform people’s life chances, unearth hidden talent and ensure our creative voice is heard on the national and world stage.”