Creative UK (known as Creative England from 2010 to 2021) is a not-for-profit organisation that supports the creative industries in the United Kingdom. The business promotes the development of creative companies, which in turn support business across games, film, creative and digital media as well as production services. The company works in partnership with the British Film Institute, has offices in Bristol and Salford, and operates predominantly outside of the city of London.
On 24 November 2021, Creative England and Creative Industries Federation combined forces under the newly formed Creative UK, having previously worked together since 2019 under the Creative UK Group. The launch coincided with updated branding across the organisation and a new tag line; Here for those who dare to imagine.
Creative UK currently supports filmmaking opportunities shortFLIX, in collaboration with Sky Arts, iFeatures with the BFI and BBC Films, and Breakout with Netflix. These provide mentoring and funding to emerging film makers.
In 2021, they launched the 'Creative Coalition Festival' to "bring together the UK’s finest creators, innovators, leaders and emerging talent". In 2022, speakers included; Jed Mercurio, June Sarpong, Nadine Dorries, Jo Johnson, Rebecca Ferguson, Heather Rabbatts, and Nicholas Serota.
Creative England
Creative England was founded in 2010, formed by the consolidation of a number of regional screen agencies into one body after the UK government dismantled the UK Film Council in 2011. It was funded by both public and private investment and developed partnerships and collaborations with companies including Google, Facebook and KPMG, as well as local authorities, cultural bodies and universities, national government, and the European Commission. The organisation aimed to support original storytellers, driving diversity, collaboration and growth in the creative screen industries. Creative England and Microsoft launched Greenshoots in 2013, a game development competition which provides funding and market advice from industry experts to the winners. In 2015, Creative England launched a £1m fund, used to support entrepreneurs in film, television, games and digital media in English cities and regions beyond the capital. CEO Caroline Norbury MBE stating "our cities and regions are vibrant centres of creativity that have delivered classic films, iconic architecture, world-class writers and ground-breaking technology".
iFeatures
Launched in Bristol in 2010, supported by the BBC and South West Screen, iFeatures began as a way to nurture the cities "most outstanding creative talent" as well as attract up-and-coming filmmakers from across the UK and Europe. The following year, it was launched nationwide.
Since its creation, iFeatures has gone on to help fund 20 feature films, including Lady Macbeth, The Levelling, The Goob, and, flagship film, In the Dark Half.
shortFLIX
Shortflix (stylised as 'shortFLIX') is an initiative for new filmmakers aged 18–25 to make short films for broadcast on Sky Arts, its focus being those who have had fewer opportunities to get started in filmmaking, including those who are currently underrepresented in the industry.
Partnered with the BFI and National Youth Theatre, shortFLIX launched in May 2017 with the first five short films exploring subjects including black gay dancehall culture in London, homophobia in an Afro-Caribbean hair salon in Sheffield and a suicidal young man in Bath. In an interview with Game of Thrones actress, Ellie Kendrick, Norbury explains that the organisation was set up "to combat the challenge that whilst talent might be everywhere, opportunity is not" adding that shortFLIX enables "talented new filmmakers from diverse backgrounds to tell their story about their community and identity". The films were produced by Manchester-based production company Delaval Film.
In 2020, Carrie Battram, Johnny Massahi, Danny Seymour, John Akinde, and Isabella Culver were announced as the next recipients of the scheme which also received a boost in funding from ScreenSkills, a London-based non-profit specialising in the promotion of new talent.
The UK Creative Industries report
On 21 July 2021, the Creative UK Group launched The UK Creative Industries, the first report of its kind, exploring the power and potential of the UK's creative industries to regenerate places, rebuild the economy, drive innovation and create jobs in all parts of the UK.