14-02-2025
Arts grant drives culture drive 'from strength to strength'
Blackburn with Darwen's drive to become a North-West artistic and creative hub has been hailed as 'going from strength to strength' by its growth boss.
The remarks were made by Cllr Quesir Mahmood as the borough's executive board formally accepted a £760,000 grant towards its Cultural Investment Plan from the Arts Council England.
The cash will boost the borough council's £1,216,800 campaign to maximise its cultural assets including King George's Hall.
It will help pay for the recruitment of 250 volunteers and 12 paid workers as the authority bids to keep creative young artists in the area.
The grant will also strengthen the Creative Alliance partnership involving National Festival of Making, The Making Rooms, Super Slow Way, Culturapedia, The Bureau, Chip In volunteering and British Textile Biennale
Cllr Mahmood told Thursday's meeting: "This is a really good news story.
"The continued expansion of the cultural offer in Blackburn with Darwen goes from strength to strength from year to year."
Cllr Mustafa Desai, leader of the 4BwD opposition group, said: "Well done to all the people responsible.
"This is a great opportunity."
Council leader Cllr Phil Riley said: "This is terrific. It's a really great, great story."
The Arts Council award is for £760,000 to spend by the end of March 2027.
Proposed improvements using the cash include:
expanding the Creative Alliance programme with two new organisations and providing 12 new paid placements allowing for a diverse selection of candidates;
addressing historic gaps in creative and cultural provision;
developing creative learning and skills by recruiting 250 young cultural volunteers;
exploring the narrative of the borough's industrial and post-industrial past for young people;
piloting co-designed pop-up programmes in various spaces.
