The Engine Room

The Engine Room is a transformative programme designed to position Tees Valley as a nationally recognised hub for creative production and export. It aims to grow the region’s cultural economy by investing in talent, infrastructure, and business support, while fostering inclusion, sustainability, and strategic alignment with the Tees Valley Investment Zone.

The Engine Room is being delivered in partnership with key cultural organisations including ARC, Stockton Arts Centre, MIMA, New Writing North and Creative Factory.

Tees Valley Combined Authority has secured £1.3million from Arts Council England, the largest single investment made by Arts Council England through its Place Partnership initiative in the North. A further £845,000 will be provided by the Combined Authority and UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Creative Factory, a not-for-profit Middlesbrough organisation investing £1.6m into creative production and residential space in Middlesbrough Town Centre, will also partner on The Engine Room. Started with £2m Levelling Up Funds from Middlesbrough Council, it will turbo charge growth of the region’s creative industries.

Programme Objectives

• Grow the creative sector and build resilience in the creative economy by supporting artists, freelancers, and organisations to produce and export high-quality work.
• Raise the profile of the Tees Valley as a hub of creative production.
• Build skills and capacity across all career stages through training, retreats, and development programmes.
• Strengthen infrastructure by acquiring and refurbishing creative spaces and piloting a Creative Land Trust model across Tees Valley.
• Support entrepreneurship through a new Creative Agency and a Creative Export Loan Scheme.
• Promote inclusion and sustainability in all aspects of delivery.

Intended Outputs and Impacts

• Engage 1,000 creatives and 200 co-creators.
• Develop 47 new creative works, with 30 exported nationally/internationally.
• Create 5 direct jobs, establish 1 Creative Agency, 1 Creative Land Trust, and 1 loan mechanism.
• Reach 10,000 audience members through public-facing events and performances.
• Deliver conferences, retreats, and awards across literature, theatre, and visual arts.

Designed to support and empower creatives at every stage of their journey, The Engine Room will deliver support based on three key areas: talent development, production and export support and a strengthened creative infrastructure.

Core Programme Components

The Engine Room will deliver a coordinated set of interventions across talent development, infrastructure, business support, and cultural production:

a.     Talent Development

• Retreats, conferences, and training programmes in storytelling and new writing, visual arts, and theatre, delivered by New Writing North, MIMA, and ARC.
• New Writing Awards
• New Creatives Commissioning Fund: grants to support emerging artists.
• Regular scratch nights, residencies, and co-creation opportunities.

b.     Infrastructure Investment

• Acquisition and refurbishment of buildings in Middlesbrough for studios, galleries, music venues, and live/work spaces.
• Pilot of a Creative Land Trust model outside Middlesbrough to secure long-term creative spaces.
• Creation of sustainable financial models through rental and commercial activity.

c.     Production & Export Support

• Expansion of the ARC Production Hub to support co-creation, touring, and artist development.
• Launch of a Creative Agency offering expertise in IP, legal, finance, marketing, and environmental sustainability.
• Introduction of a Creative Export Loan Scheme to de-risk touring and exporting work.

d.     Inclusion & Accessibility

• Targeted outreach via sector networks.
• Bursaries and access support for participants.
• Accessible venues and materials.
• Open-door policy at the Creative Agency.

e.     Environmental Responsibility

• Sustainable touring models and production practices.
• Promotion of public transport and local supply chains.
• Development of environmental toolkits and case studies.

 

Programme duration: November 2025 – August 2028.