A Newcastle charity has called on the Government to help establish a 'Centre for Writing' in the North East.

Newcastle charity New Writing North has joined forces with industry leaders, academics, and civic supporters to call on the new Labour Government for the proposal.

The centre would provide support to both professional writers and publishing businesses across the North while also fostering writing and reading initiatives within the community.

Notable contributors to the plan include New Writing North, Northumbria University, and some of Britain's largest publishers such as Hachette UK, Faber & Faber, and Simon and Schuster.

The consortium has bid for a significant grant from the Department of Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport's Cultural Development Fund to match the grants already pledged by regional partners.

Most read

Get the latest news, sports, and entertainment delivered straight to your device by subscribing to The Northern Echo here - it's now only £4 for four months.

North East mayor Kim McGuinness, said: "For too long, the North's creative talent has been overlooked and dismissed.

"Almost the entire British publishing industry is based in London, and decision-making centralised in the capital.

"It's time to abandon tired perceptions and the decades-long control over funding and powers which stifles the nation's creative potential.

"Talent is classless, but not everyone gets the opportunity to develop it."

The proposal entails the establishment of the first national centre for writing in Newcastle as a way of shifting the southern and London-oriented bias in the writing industries.

Claire Malcolm MBE, CEO of New Writing North said: "The cultural industries already play a huge role in our regional economy and this is growing.

"This investment would help revitalise the region, attract inward investment, and help train and develop a new generation of local talent.

"I want young people here to be able to grow up to be publishers, writers, and creatives without presuming that they need to leave the North East to achieve their ambition."

The Department for Culture Media and Sport said they would not comment on individual funding applications.