The five areas to receive £20m of funding to invest in culture have been unveiled by the Government.
Grimsby, Thames Estuary, Plymouth, Wakefield and Worcester will receive the funding to invest in local culture, heritage and creative industries and help drive economic growth.
The funding is expected to create over 1,300 new jobs and support more than 700 businesses.
Culture secretary, Jeremy Wright, said: ‘The Cultural Development Fund will support tailored local plans that use culture to create jobs, boost tourism and ultimately regenerate communities.
‘This is an incredible opportunity that will not only help people build careers in the arts and culture locally but also boost wider investment and diversify the creative economy.’
Chair of the Local Government Association’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, said: ‘This new funding will help bring these benefits to more areas and their communities. However the impacts of culture should be felt in every community across the country whether small or large, urban or rural, economically successful or struggling to attract business.
’Councils face an £8bn funding gap by 2025, and our core cultural services like libraries and museums will come under increasing financial pressure unless local government finance is put on a sustainable footing.’
