ALMOST one-and-a-half million pounds will be dedicated to local communities aimed at preserving and promoting arts and culture.

The Great Place: Lakes and Dales initiative has been launched at the Roundabout Theatre, in Grasmere, offering a £1.34m boost to the area's economy, culture and arts.

Money has been made available through the Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund for the project, which is being led by South Lakeland District Council and Craven District Council.

Speaking at the launch, SLDC’s portfolio holder for culture, media and leisure, councillor Matt Severn, said: "It’s fantastic to see this project begin; it links in with our Cultural Destination success, our existing partnerships with our national portfolio organisations, and our support for the successful World Heritage Site bid and the creative industries.

“We want to continue to bring in new ideas, encourage new generations’ interpretations of our heritage in the modern world, and add new value to our great natural heritage and cultural assets."

The project, which also includes the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Park authorities, will be focused on the rural corridor linking Grasmere in the North and Skipton in the South, including the market towns and rural hinterlands, extending into both the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks.

Harnessing the economic potential of towns such as Grasmere is a central pillar of the Great Places scheme.

It is hoped that by encouraging towns to embrace their heritage, and link up with others nearby, local economies, job prospects and skills will all receive a boost.

Cllr Severn continued: "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 our future economy.

Existing flagship heritage initiatives will be strengthened, including the Windermere Jetty, Lakes Alive, Lakes Culture and many more.

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.