Copeland will be one of 15 priority places in the north for investment in new cultural experiences.

Arts Council England has announced that its three-year delivery plan for 2021 to 2024 will see the borough as one of 54 priority places nationally where it wants to develop new opportunities for investment.

Councillor Steve Morgan, portfolio holder for leisure and sport at Copeland Council, said: “Investment in the arts is crucial and having a wide ranging offering right across the borough to complement what we already have to offer can only be a massive benefit to our area.

"To have such expertise look at how to increase the arts reach to everyone is incredibly welcome and we look forward to working closely with the Arts Council and others to boost our offering, excite our community and build modern arts and cultural development into our wider plans for our borough, it’s an exciting time to be in Copeland.”

The plan and the Arts Council's Let's Create strategy highlights where there are opportunities for investment, collaboration, and progress to increase cultural opportunities nationally by 2030.

Arts Council will work closely with the priority locations to develop new opportunities for investment, both from the Arts Council and other partners.

These places have been chosen through a set of criteria based on a review of current public investment and opportunities to engage with creative and cultural activity.

Jennifer Cleary, director for the north of Arts Council England, said: “I am excited today to announce that Copeland is one of our 15 priority places across the north.

"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 Copeland 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.

“The appetite for culture and further cultural investment in Copeland is strong and I look forward to working with the local authority and the cultural sector across the region to support the growth of its cultural offer.”

Darren Henley, chief executive of Arts Council England, added: “Artists, arts organisations, museums and libraries have found creative new ways to serve their audiences and communities since the start of the pandemic.

"Our new delivery plan shows how we’ll work with them to build on that spirit of imagination and innovation as our society reopens.

"It’s particularly exciting to be focusing on our 54 priority places over the coming years, as part of the Arts Council’s commitment to play its part in delivering on the Government’s programme of levelling up.

"We’re looking forward to nurturing dynamic new partnerships with local people and organisations in each of these locations.”