ARTS Council England will invest £3.8 million in Northumberland culture over the next three years.

Darren Henley, Arts Council England CEO, said: "At Arts Council England we invest in arts organisations, museums and libraries to make sure everyone can feel the joy and inspiration that experiencing great creativity and culture can bring."

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Hexham Courant: The Queen's Hall The Queen's Hall (Image: Jason Thompson Sound Ideas Media)

"We believe that people here deserve to enjoy the benefits of increased investment in arts and culture. This means more of us can continue to experience the very best and most ambitious art and culture - often free to access - wherever we live, whatever our background, whatever our passion."

Hexham Courant: Let Us Tell YouLet Us Tell You (Image: Von Fox Promotions)

"The beauty of Northumberland, including its dramatic coastline and dark skies, has proved a creative inspiration to many artists and writers born here or drawn to visit or to settle here. But the county's geography and scattered communities mean that it can sometimes be difficult to take advantage of creative and cultural opportunities."

Hexham Courant: Iweigh, Mortal Fools productionIweigh, Mortal Fools production (Image: Marion Botella Photography)

"That is why Northumberland is one of the Arts Council's Levelling Up for Culture Places, an area where for too long our investment has been too low.

"We have just announced that we will invest £3,871,356 in Northumberland over the next three years.

"Among those organisations we will continue to support are Queen's Hall Arts, which runs Hexham's popular arts centre and delivers arts activities to parts of rural Northumberland, and Bloodaxe Books, based in the town but with a world-renowned reputation for publishing contemporary poetry."

Hexham Courant: Activities at Woodhorn Museum, which is supported by the Arts Council fundingActivities at Woodhorn Museum, which is supported by the Arts Council funding (Image: Richard Kenworthy)

Award-winning theatre company Mortal Fools, which has premises in Prudhoe and Ashington, will receive £180,000 annually until 2026.

It works with thousands of young people every year, delivering training courses and tours projects nationwide.

Hexham Courant: Charcoal and pastel workshop at Woodhorn Museum Charcoal and pastel workshop at Woodhorn Museum (Image: The Bigger Picture)

"We are increasing support to Museums Northumberland which will receive just over £1 million over these three years to help sustain its work which includes running Woodhorn and other museums in Berwick, Morpeth and Hexham."

Darren added: "In towns including Hexham and Berwick, and in villages in between, we hope the benefits of our investment over the next three years will be enjoyed by those already enjoying Northumberland's excellent cultural offering and also encourage new audiences to take part, especially young people.

"I feel certain the investment announced this week will help all these organisations to reach even more people, making Northumberland an even more rewarding place to live, work, study or visit."