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Investing in the UK’s creative and cultural future
16/10/2009
By Claire West
A new state-of-the-art national film centre is to be created on London's South Bank, thanks to a Government commitment of £45 million, the Prime Minister announced today.
It is one of a number of announcements of flagship cultural projects to help secure Britain's future as a world leader in the creative industries. They include major extensions to the Tate Modern and British Museum and a new visitor centre at Stonehenge.
The British Film Institute (BFI) National Film Centre will showcase the best of British and world cinema across five screens, as well as creating an innovative new space for exhibitions, cultural events, research and study. The UK's cultural sector is an important and growing part of the country's economy, with the potential to grow even faster in the future.
Speaking ahead of the project's launch at the BFI London Film Festival, the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said:
"Britain has achieved worldwide respect for its innovative and vibrant film industry, exceptional arts and rich cultural heritage. This project creates a new home for British film right at the heart of London's cultural centre on the South Bank.
"These are challenging economic times but with backing from the public and private sector, the commitment to the new BFI National Film Centre demonstrates the Government's continuing support for the arts in Britain, and our determination to invest in leading creative industries as part of our economic recovery.
"This is a great British success story and shows what can be achieved with a Government that backs talent and gets behind industry."
The film centre investment comes on top of £25 million that the Government has already committed to preserve for the nation the BFI's internationally acclaimed film collection, as well as significant collections held in regional archives - the visual memory of the UK. This will allow... continued on page two >
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