Creative England launched on 01 October, 2011 becoming a BFI delegated body for the distribution of National Lottery funds for film in the English Regions.
The Film Culture Fund aims to boost access for audiences to a wide range of film content in the English regions outside of London, to enrich audiences’ experience through education opportunities, and to bring regional screen heritage into wider film provision.
The Fund is looking to support the provision and interpretation of specialized and mainstream film in England, by investing in:
• audience development within the film exhibition sector
• film education activities which are linked to and support film exhibition infrastructure (e.g. cinemas, film festivals, film societies and other platforms)
• the acquisition, preservation and conservation of and access to regional screen heritage.
Applications are now invited from cinemas, film archives, film festivals, mobile cinemas, film societies and other eligible organizations working in the English regions outside of London. Awards will range from £2,000 – £50,000 depending on the project. Funded activity can include programming, education, reaching under-served audiences and regional screen heritage.
Creative England’s Film Culture department is headed up by Jay Arnold.
Arnold said: “I’m pleased to open Creative England’s first funding scheme. We’re looking for project ideas that we can get to help nurture film culture, to the benefit of audiences around the country, and we’re interested in hearing from organizations from all English regions.”
BFI’s Director of Partnerships Eddie Berg said: “Creative England will be partners for the BFI’s Forward Plan and we welcome this commitment of support for the exhibition, archive and film education sectors."
Applications for the Film Culture Fund can be made online via the Creative England website. The deadline is midday on 28 November, 2011.
