VISITOR ECONOMY
Development – a CGI shows what the multimillion pound Screen Industries Production Village in Hartlepool might look like .
Attraction – Middlesbrough Mela is one of the biggest , most spectacular multi-cultural festivals in the North-East , attracting thousands of visitors over two days .
Another initiative , Tees Valley Screen , is putting the region ’ s name in lights . It is a partnership between Tees Valley Combined Authority and North East Screen , to develop and champion the region as one of the UK ’ s leading film and production hubs while supporting talent , ambition and growth .
It has spun out of the £ 11.4m North East Screen Industries Partnership , backed by a £ 4.75m investment from TVCA .
This has led to a raft of film and TV shows being created here , as all local authorities have signed a Filming Friendly Charter to make it easier than ever to film here .
The partnership will also capitalise on the Northern Studios in Hartlepool – currently the only large-scale film and TV complex in the North-East – and the development of a state-of-the-art Screen Industries Production Village in the town , as part of its Hartlepool Development Corporation vision .
In January 2024 , the region hosted the star-studded premiere of crime thriller Jackdaw , which was attended by North-East writer and director Jamie Childs , plus stars Oliver Jackson-Cohen , Jenna Coleman and Thomas Turgoose .
It was filmed entirely in the region , including sites at Redcar , Seal Sands and Nunthorpe and using Northern Studios .
This trend is continuing with new ITV true crime drama I Fought the Law , starring Sheridan Smith , being shot in Teesside and the surrounding areas in August 2024 .
It is based on the real-life story of Ann Ming challenging the UK ’ s double jeopardy law after her daughter ’ s murder .
And Smoggie Queens , created by and starring Teessider Phil Dunning , is a new BBC comedy following a group of friends who are proud of their Middlesbrough roots and their LGBTQ + community .
Phil stars as drag queen Dickie , alongside regional icon Mark Benton , with the show now in production and shooting around the region .
The North East Screen partnership is paying dividends for the region . Interim analysis shows that most of the body ’ s outputs are ahead of their two-year targets , with some ahead of their five-year targets .
Tees Valley is now on an equal footing with areas such as County Durham , Northumberland , Liverpool and Manchester .
There has been an increase in the total amount of inward production spend , up from £ 9.9m in 2021 to £ 17.3m in 2023 – a 74 per cent increase against a 25 per cent target .
Furthermore , it is estimated the programme has boosted the economy by £ 12.7m in 2024 , with a net total of 264 fulltime equivalent employees .
As we continue to make Tees Valley an engine room of creative production , a new programme of support for five leading local artists is now in place – each receiving a career-changing £ 30,000 investment .
They are Middlesbrough singersongwriter Amelia Coburn , Darlington author Lisette Auton , Stockton-based visual artist Claire A Baker , theatre-maker Scott Turnbull and Stockton film-maker Andy Berriman .
The year-long support includes a realliving wage bursary and a professional development budget .
All five will also receive industry mentoring and tailored business support to take their creative career to the next level .
The project is a bold new approach to develop the next generation of musicians , film-makers and writers , which could provide a ground-breaking model for other areas .
All this work is supporting the growth and competitiveness of the region ’ s creative and visitor sectors , cementing their role in our long-term plans to supercharge our economy .
One new development further helping this cause and expected to welcome 300,000 visitors per year is the £ 35m Hopetown in Darlington , the largest attraction in the region .
The site is much more than just a museum – it engages and inspires the innovators of the future by connecting them with the pioneering railway heritage that launched the Stockton and Darlington Railway .
Visitors can enjoy diverse exhibitions , watch members of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust build the UK ’ s newest steam engine and marvel at state-of-the-art 4D virtual reality time travel ride .
This – and other attractions – will continue to boost visitor numbers , with data showing their economic impact is continuing to grow , with tourism valued at £ 1.3bn for 2023 – up 4.2 per cent on the previous year .
Visitor days and numbers also beat 2022 with direct and indirect employment related to tourism up around 11.5 per cent on the year prior .
With burgeoning initiatives only set to snowball more , you ’ ll soon be seeing more of Tees Valley on your screens and being promoted like never before – making it a better place to visit and invest than ever .
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