Arts Council England, North-East has launched an ambitious campaign to make the region the best place in England to live and work as an artist. The rallying cry was made at artists04, a celebration event held at BALTIC in Gateshead recently. The Arts Council outlined its plans to get more national and international artists relocating to the region to an audience of 300 hundred artists from across the North-East. Andrew Dixon, executive director of Arts Council England, North-East said: `This region is presenting unrivalled opportunities for artists with new employment in arts commissions, training, education and the cultural industries. "Artists of all disciplines are choosing to base themselves here and we are looking at ways to make sure that many more follow in their footsteps." The cultural industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of the North-East economy. The think-tank Demos recently published Northern Soul, a report which confirmed that this region is seeing real benefits from its cultural regeneration with artists and creative workers relocating to the North-East. London recently announced its own Creative Economy Initiative but there is evidence of a steady flow of artists and arts workers upping sticks from the Capital and moving to the North-East. This is particularly true of visual artists, with individuals moving out of London where property prices exclude them from getting studios. Martin Wilson, director of Tin Productions, a dance company based in Newcastle, says there are many practical reasons why the North-East is a great place for artists. He said: "We have good road and rail links, cheaper housing and cost of living - we just need to get more people up here. For some, the most inspiring thing about the North-East is the landscape here but for me it is the people." There has also been a rise in the number of international artists relocating to the North-East. Recent recruits include Gregory Nash from Australia who joins Northern Stage as producer; Nigerian choreographer Bode Lawal who will soon be bringing his dance company Sakoba to Newcastle and Joan-Albert Serra from Spain who has joined The Sage Gateshead as head of vocal and instrumental learning. Working with partners such as One NorthEast, the Arts Council has created an environment where both artists and creative businesses can thrive. In the last year alone it has supported regional artists with nearly £1.5m funding. Commissions North has developed more than £2m worth of commissions during the last 12 months and in the previous three years the Art Council's Cultural Business Venture has backed over 250 businesses, safeguarded more than 130 jobs and created over 200 new jobs and projects. Creative Partnerships, which develops creativity in education, has also provided a significant boost to the regional arts economy. By 2005 investment in this Arts Council managed scheme will be over £4m a year, providing employment opportunities for more than 200 artists in the next two years. With the development of new cultural facilities such as The Sage Gateshead, the Middlesbrough Institute for Contemporary Art and the Centre for the Children's Book, the North-East's cultural regeneration will continue to provide demand for artists as well as providing new audiences. The region is undoubtedly brimming with talent, ideas and creativity. Much of that will be home-grown but the Arts Council is confident this climate will attract artists from all over the world. | 
