Cambridgeshire's performing and creative artists recently received a boost as a specially designed £192,000 European funded training programme was launched with Anglia Ruskin University. The Creative Industries Business Improvement Partnership (CIBIP) will give local creative artists direct training in how to mix artistic inspiration into business know how.

Cambridgeshire Euro MP, Richard Howitt, was getting creative himself to launch the first of these training events last week as he tuned up with Anglia Ruskin music students to make a song and dance about the European Social Funded programme.

The CIBIP project offers support from qualified mentors and help in developing company business and trading plans. Four separate training events are being planned over the next two months, focusing on helping artists with skills from marketing to business management, and disability equality training. This project has seen Anglia Ruskin University team up with Screen East and with Theatre Resource.