A CULTURE, arts and heritage project spearheaded by Craven and South Lakeland district councils has been launched at the pop-up Roundabout Theatre in Grasmere.

Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund have awarded Craven and South Lakeland district councils £1.34 million to carry out the Great Place: Lakes and Dales project to boost the local economy through celebrating local culture, arts and heritage.

Great Place: Lakes and Dales aims to create a sustainable, resilient, creative community and economy, which will retain and attract younger people and business to the area to influence, support and create a future economy.

The project is being led by Craven District Council, in partnership with South Lakeland District Council (SLDC), and also the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Park authorities.

Councillor Simon Myers, Craven District Council’s lead member for Enterprising Craven, said: “I’m delighted we’ve been able to launch this innovative project, which will strengthen the future economy of our rural communities and help make them sustainable for the future.

“Our Great Place has outstanding countryside and a wealth of culture which has inspired creativity for generations. However, with an ageing population we need to take action to attract and retain more young people.

“Only young people and families will ensure the survival of our village schools, provide a skilled workforce for local businesses, and keep our districts vibrant and attractive for visitors.”

SLDC’s portfolio holder for Culture, Media and Leisure, Cllr Matt Severn, said: “The success of Great Place: Lakes and Dales depends on effective partnership and collaboration. Delivery requires partners within and beyond Craven and South Lakeland committing to join together in action, and we hope to work with other local organisations and individuals across the public, private and voluntary sectors to help us retain and recruit younger people to the area.”

The project will be focused on the rural corridor linking Skipton in the south and Grasmere in the north, including the market towns and rural hinterlands, extending into both the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks.

The Great Place includes the market towns of Skipton and Kendal and the area characterised by the Yorkshire Three Peaks, the Lune Valley and the approaches into the central Lake District.

The project aims to strengthen flagship heritage initiatives, including Skipton Town Hall and Craven Museum and Gallery, Stories in Stone, Lakes Culture, Windermere Jetty, Re-imagining Wordsworth and Lakes Alive.

The project will carry out research to define what is culturally important to the area, how economic activity can be generated and how a younger workforce can be attracted to stay or move to the areas.

Work with festivals including Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Lakes Alive, Kendal Mountain Festival, Grassington Festival, Settle Stories and Skipton International Puppet Festival will help develop cultural tourism.