The tourism minister today committed to giving Blackpool, Bradford and the Lake District £15m in cultural regeneration funds for the North.

The three northern areas will each receive a share of the Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund, which was created to build a lasting regional legacy from the Great Exhibition of the North.

A total of £4m will help transform the vacant former Bradford Odeon cinema into a 4,000 capacity live music, entertainment and events venue.

Nearly £3.3m will enhance the visitor experience at cultural attractions across the Lake District, the UK’s newest World Heritage Site.

A further £4m will be used to create a museum in Blackpool that will celebrate the town’s history as the UK’s first mass seaside holiday resort.

Eleven towns and cities from across the North of England bid for a share of the Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund.

‘These exciting projects will provide a true cultural legacy for people across the North that increases tourism, boosts local economies and creates jobs for the future,’ said Michael Ellis, minister for arts, heritage and tourism.

‘They reflect the diversity and unique identity of Blackpool, Bradford and the Lake District and will enable them to realise their exciting cultural ambitions.’

The Great Exhibition of the North, which will be held in Newcastle-Gateshead this summer, will showcase the creative, cultural and design sectors of the North.