ARTS Council England bosses have announced that Barrow will be one of 15 priority places in the North in which the organisation will look to develop new opportunities for investment.

This is part of the publication of the organisation's three-year Delivery Plan for 2021 - 2024.

Jennifer Cleary, North director, Arts Council England, said: “The launch of our Delivery Plan, which sets out how we’ll implement our new 10-year strategy 'Let’s Create', and the announcement of our priority places will see us working closely with partners across Barrow to ensure that creativity and culture can play a key role in levelling up across the North.

“Public investment in the arts is vital and never more so than as we emerge from the pandemic.

"It has been fantastic to see the Government’s commitment to art and culture through the Culture Recovery Fund,which has provided a lifeline to arts and cultural organisations.

"The launch of our Delivery Plan and announcement of a set of priority places affirms our commitment to investing in the sector to ensure everyone across the country can access art and culture no matter where they live.

“Communities are at the heart of the work of Barrow’s arts and cultural organisations, from Art Gene to the recent Creative People and Places project Barraculture.

"I look forward to working with the local authority and the town’s creative organisations and individuals to support the growth of Barrow’s cultural sector.”

Cllr Ann Thomson, leader of Barrow Borough Council, said: "We're delighted that Barrow is among the 54 priority locations announced by Arts Council England today.

"Barrow has a rich industrial story, creative people and an array of incredible natural resources that have helped forge our unique cultural heritage - something Let's Create will help to build upon and nurture through partnerships with local people and some of the fantastic organisations we have in our borough.

"We look forward to the exciting opportunities this will realise over the next three years."