Government funding of £60m has been announced as part of a package of measures to boost the creative industries.

The money, announced today (17 January) by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has been earmarked for grassroots music venues, creative businesses involved with music and film exports, as well as start-up video game studios.

The government says the money will “facilitate investment and innovation in communities, in turn supporting businesses and employment”.

The announcement coincides with Nandy meeting with more than 250 creative businesses and cultural leaders at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead today.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the summit is the first step towards delivering the Creative Industry Sector Plan, as part of the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy.

At the summit Nandy will also announce the priority regions for Creative Industries: the North East; Greater Manchester; Liverpool City Region; West Yorkshire; West Midlands; Greater London; West of England; South Wales; the Glasgow, Edinburgh-Dundee corridor; and Belfast.

Alongside this, the government will provide additional funding, to be agreed as part of the Spending Review, to six Mayoral Combined Authorities: the North East; Greater Manchester; Liverpool City Region; West Yorkshire; West Midlands; and the West of England.

The funding will aim to maximise the strengths of the areas to deliver growth.