John Dean – Crime Writer

Exciting plans for a new centre dedicated to writing and publishing are taking shape.

New Writing North and Northumbria University are to create the centre in Newcastle and it will be a public building.

It will host programmes, courses, and events for professional and aspiring writers, for those who write purely for the love of it and for those who want to try creative writing for the first time.

The centre will strengthen Newcastle’s ambitions to become a national hub for writing and publishing and contribute to its growing status as a creative industries leader. The centre will be the first of its kind involving a cross-section of nationwide partners – from the arts, academia, media, and publishing industries – based in a single site.

There will also be a dedicated space in the centre for Northumbria University students of English, Creative Writing, and Publishing.

As of January 2026, the centre has received £5 million from Department for Culture, Media, and Sport as part of its Cultural Development Fund and £1 million from Newcastle City Council, with a further £4.5 million from regional backers to be announced shortly.

The centre is a key part of North-East Mayor Kim McGuinness’ Cultural Strategy, and is backed by publishers including Hachette UK, Faber and Simon & Schuster.