UK creative industries get US$73 million in new funding

Funding is going to select regions across the country, as well as to specific animation companies including Tapocketa and Yellow Mouse Studios.
January 17, 2025

The UK government has committed to investing roughly US$73 million (£60 million) to expand the country’s animation and video game industries. 

Roughly US$48.7 million (£40 million) will be distributed over the next fiscal year to existing programs such as Create Growth, the UK Games Fund and the UK Global Screen Fund. Focused on allocating funding to animation projects looking for international co-production partners, business development opportunities and distribution, the UK Global Screen Fund is getting US$8.5 million (£7 million). 

The Create Growth program will receive US$4.3 million (£3.6 million) to support 127 businesses in 12 regions of the UK, including several animation and video game companies. Among the recipients are Hertfordshire-based studio Tapocketa, which will use the money to develop a new IP; and Devon’s Yellow Mouse Studios, which plans to launch an animation training academy. 

The government is also hosting a creative industries summit in Gateshead today that more than 250 attendees from the creative and business sectors of the media industry will take part in. During the event, UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy intends to announce that the government is prioritizing media industry growth in North East England, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, Greater London, West England, South Wales, Glasgow, the Edinburgh-Dundee corridor and Belfast.

Trade org Animation UK celebrated the new funding in a statement it released today, especially the allocation for the Global Screen Fund. It’s also particularly supportive of the government’s focus on different regions because the UK’s animation industry is decentralized and there’s talent across the country. 

“Today’s announcements are a clear signal of the government’s commitment to unlocking the enormous potential of the UK’s creative industries,” says Kate O’Connor, executive chair and spokesperson for Animation UK. “Animation is at the heart of this sector, driving innovation and creating globally loved content that enhances the UK’s soft power.”

Image courtesy of Sabrina Mazzeo via Unsplash

About The Author
News editor for Kidscreen. Ryan covers tech, talent and general kids entertainment news, with a passion for kids rap content and video games. Have a story that's of interest to Kidscreen readers? Contact Ryan at rtuchow@brunico.com

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