The Creative Europe Desk UK (CED UK) is now up and running, with a raft of specialist teams operating in Glasgow, Cardiff and London.

Managed by the BFI and the British Council and part of the €1.46bn European Commission’s new funding programme, Creative Europe, the scheme aims to support the audiovisual, cultural and creative sectors over the next seven years.

As well as film and TV, the CED UK will also offer advice and support to sectors such as design, fashion and architecture. In addition, the offices will promote international collaboration between the audiovisual sectors.

Through the former MEDIA Programme, previous films which have benefited from the funding include Richard Ayoade’s The Double starring Jesse Eisenberg.

The new programme is expected to reach over 300,000 cultural professionals and support the release of over 1,000 European films.

With offices currently set up in Glasgow, Cardiff and London, CED UK are on the lookout for specialists to run offices in Manchester and Belfast.

Agnieszka Moody, director of CED UK said: “The audiovisual and cultural sectors share similar needs and challenges as well as exciting potential.  Together they are stronger, they can inspire and learn from each other. This innovative, wide-ranging partnership will help ensure UK professionals across the creative and cultural sectors can benefit from Creative Europe funding, particularly as convergence creates new creative and business opportunities that can now be supported.”

Creative Europe partners include Arts Council England, Arts Council Northern Ireland, Creative Scotland, and the Welsh Government.