Festivals, museums and arts projects across East Lancashire have been given a major financial boost following the announcement of Arts Council England’s investment programme for the next three years.

More than £9.4 million is to be invested in the county as a whole, £2m of it in projects in Blackburn with Darwen alone.

Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, the National Festival of Making, the British Textile Biennial and Culturapedia have all been added to the Arts Council’s national portfolio guaranteeing them funding.

The Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery in Rawtenstall and two Hyndburn-based organisations - DanceSyndrome and Idle Women - are also new additions to the list.

In addition, Burnley Youth Theatre and Horse and Bamboo at Waterfoot will continue to receive financial support.

Cllr Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “This is such fantastic and welcome news for Blackburn with Darwen.

“The council embarked on a programme of developing the creative arts offering within the town some years ago, and we are incredibly proud to have multiple world-class arts organisations now call our borough their home.

“To have this important and sustained partnership work acknowledged and invested in by the Arts Council is just brilliant.

“The programmes delivered by these organisations not only shines a spotlight on our town’s distinctive creative energy and making heritage, it also brings residents together in a unique way, creating long-term cultural impact within our communities.”

Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery has been allocated £440,000 over the next three years.

Borough arts and heritage manager Rebecca Johnson said: “As one of the first purpose-built museums outside of London in 1874, Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery’s aim was to bring culture to the people of the borough.

“As we reach our 150th birthday, we are absolutely thrilled to be able to grow our activities and outstanding collections in partnership with our local communities by becoming part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio.

“We will continue to tell the story and history of the borough, and indeed begin shaping our future, through collaborative work across Blackburn with Darwen.”

In five years, the National Festival of Making has become an event of national importance, attracting thousands of visitors to Blackburn

In welcoming the announcement from the Arts Council, Jamie Holman, chair of the board of directors for National Festival of Making, said: “We have collectively witnessed the enormous growth of Blackburn’s local cultural ecology in recent years.

“And that is now even further enhanced with strategic and significant Arts Council National Portfolio Investment.”

Operating since 2019, the British Textile Biennial (BTB) has shone a spotlight on the nation’s creativity, innovation and expression in textiles against the backdrop of the impressive infrastructure of the cotton industry in Pennine Lancashire

The biennial is produced by Super Slow Way – another of the now five non-profit organisations (NPOs) working in Blackburn with Darwen.

Exhibitions have brought global brands and names to the area including a 50-year archive exhibition from luxury Italian sportswear designers CP Company in Darwen Market and the launch of a ‘Blackburn’ edition from mega-brand Adidas Spezial, which was founded by proud Darrener Gary Aspden.

Laurie Peake and Jenny Rutter, co-directors of BTB, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be one of a range of great organisations in East Lancashire to be awarded NPO.

“This puts us on a great footing for the British Textile Biennial in 2023, which is already shaping up to be the most exciting programme yet.”

Julie Nicholson, managing director of DanceSyndrome which uses dance to help those with disabilities reach their full potential in Hyndburn, said: “I don’t think I can quite put it into words what getting this support means. In the arts world, this is huge and it will help take our organisation to the next level.”

Arts Council England chief executive Darren Henley said: “We want to nurture and support East Lancashire’s distinctive cultural industry and identity, working with organisations and others here to place creativity at the centre of the recovery and of everyday life. And with the commitment, dedication and talent shown by so many people here, I know we will succeed.”