Canal champions win arts funding

Arts Council England has awarded a consortium that includes Canal & River Trust and Barnfield Construction £2m to create cultural events along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in and around Burnley and Blackburn.

The money will be used to connect the communities that live on and alongside the canal and beyond in Pennine Lancashire through high profile arts and events.

A 10-year programme will include festivals, screenings, performance, environmental arts projects, temporary digital installations, exhibitions and pop-up cultural spaces.

The consortium hopes that in time the Leeds & Liverpool Canal will "become known locally, nationally and internationally as a place to come for a unique heritage, cultural and leisure experience."

The consortium includes Arts Partners in Pennine Lancashire, Barnfield Construction, Groundwork Pennine Lancashire and local authorities in Hyndburn, Blackburn, Burnley and Pendle.