The West of England is one of six priority regions to benefit from the Department for Culture Media and Sport's (DCMS) £150 million Creative Places Growth Fund.

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority has secured £25 million of this funding for the region. The programme will run from Autumn 2026 to March 2029 and will support creative businesses, freelancers and the wider creative sector to grow, innovate and access new opportunities.

The fund is aligned with the Creative Industries Sector Plan and the National Industrial Strategy. It will focus on the key areas needed to support long-term growth in the creative industries:

  • Technology adoption and innovation
  • Access to finance and investment
  • Reducing skills and talent gaps and shortages
  • Growing international export and trade

The programme will support place-based activity across the West of England, helping creative businesses and freelancers to access the right support, develop new ideas, attract investment, build skills and reach new markets.

What the fund will support

The Creative Places Growth Fund will be delivered through a series of targeted programmes and interventions.

These will support creative businesses and freelancers to:

  • access business support, mentoring and investment readiness support
  • test and develop new ideas, products, services and intellectual property
  • access grants and finance to support growth
  • build international connections and export opportunities
  • strengthen skills, talent and career pathways
  • support screen, music and createch growth across the region
  • improve access, inclusion and sustainability across the creative sector

The fund is designed to support inclusive economic growth, helping the West of England’s creative industries to scale, attract investment, create opportunities and strengthen the region’s national and international profile.

How the programme is being developed

The programme is being shaped through engagement with creative businesses, freelancers, sector partners, local authorities and industry specialists.

This includes learning from the test and refine activity. This engagement has highlighted the importance of clear access routes, targeted business support, access to finance, international opportunities, IP development, skills and support for freelancers and early-stage businesses.

Further details on individual programme strands, eligibility and application routes will be shared as the programme develops.

Programme launch

The Creative Places Growth Fund will launch in phases from Autumn 2026.

More information will be published on this page, including details of upcoming opportunities, events, application routes and how creative businesses and freelancers can get involved.

people on stage at night backlit by text that says 'is choice real?' Image credit: Act 1.5

Clean Power Pilot

The West of England Clean Power Pilot is the world's first renewable energy hub of its kind, guaranteeing clean power to major festivals and film/television shoots at scale.

Clean energy is a major growth sector for the region, with an ambition through this pilot to raise awareness of related training and employment opportunities.

Read more

Continue to

Culture, Creative and Visitor Economy

From cutting-edge film studios to vibrant festivals, internationally acclaimed museums to hidden artistic gems, the West of England is bursting with culture and creative energy.

Culture West

Investment to provide more work for creative professionals across the West of England.

Cultural Compact

Amplifying the role of culture in the region, as a driver for economic success, placemaking, community cohesion and personal wellbeing.