THE results of a youth research commission are due to be revealed and plans for new cultural events discussed at a two day interactive conference at Broughton Hall organised by the Great Place: Lakes and Dales (GPLD) initiative in November.

GPLD: Creative Connections will aim to understand and set about addressing some of the reasons why fewer 16 to 34 year olds chose to live and work in the Dales.

Lindsey Hebden, GPLD project manager, said:“The conference will very much be an interactive and creative experience – we want it to be an opportunity for people to get together, share ideas and help us shape GPLD’s work over the next 18 months. It’s vital for the area’s economy that we have enough younger people living and working here, so the research will help us understand their views and any barriers to living and working here.”

As well as shaping the future work of GPLD, the conference will also see the introduction of a ‘seedfunding’ scheme for younger creative start-up businesses and the launch of a major architectural design project.

The conference, held at the estate’s Avalon centre, on November 22 and November 23, will include influential keynote speakers, expert panels, question and answer sessions and creative workshops.

It will also pick up on two ‘placemaking’ sessions held in June in Skipton and in Kendal with inspirational British designer Wayne Hemingway. The plan is to organise a major future cultural event in the area.

Councillor Richard Foster, Leader of Craven District Council, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming people to our ‘great place’ for this unique conference. This will give us the opportunity to hear a wide range of views and help us shape the future for the Lakes and Dales.

“Working together in partnership with the Lakes, we hope this project will help attract more young people to the area in the long term and make our communities more sustainable.

“We have some incredible countryside and fantastic cultural experiences on offer, so I hope conference guests will take the opportunity to explore Craven and beyond during their stay.”

Anyone interested in taking part or attending the conference, should contact GPLD on greatplace@cravendc.gov.uk.

For the Creative Connections conference, GPLD is inviting key stakeholders, policy and decision makers in the area, as well as representatives from creative, arts, digital and cultural industries.

GLPD is using arts, culture and heritage as a catalyst for economic, social and environmental change, as well as working with decision makers to influence policies which will encourage younger people to live in the Lakes and Dales.

The initiative is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council, and focuses on the rural corridor linking Skipton in the south and Grasmere in the north, including the market towns and hinterlands in between. It is managed via a Consortium of Partnership Organisations, which is made up of additional funding partners including the lead authority Craven District Council.

As well as Craven District Council, the Consortium of Partnership Organisations, is made up of South Lakeland District Council, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and Lake District National Park Authority. A Creative Board which includes additional cultural organisations, manages the strategic delivery.