TWO areas of Keighley are included in a ten-year project aimed at getting more people involved in the arts and culture.

The town’s Central and West wards are among six Bradford-district areas identified for inclusion when the initiative, known as The Leap, starts early next year.

Arts Council England has awarded £2 million as part of its Creative People and Places venture to launch the scheme and fund the first four years of activity.

Leading The Leap is the Born in Bradford project, which is tracking the health and wellbeing of more than 13,500 children, and it will be delivered by a new consortium.

A number of organisations have already pledged their support, including Keighley Business Improvement District, Project 6 in the town, the local NHS clinical commissioning group and Bradford Council.

Professor John Wright – director of Bradford Institute for Health Research, which oversees Born in Bradford – said: “We are so excited to be leading this project, which will unite the district and inspire a generation.

“One of the really interesting findings from Born in Bradford over the last decade has been how important arts and culture are to our wellbeing and happiness.”

Pete Massey, northern director for Arts Council England, congratulated the district on receiving the funding.

He added: “Creative People and Places is all about getting more of the public engaged in the arts and culture by having local people help shape what’s on offer.

“Bradford’s Creative People and Places consortium is the first in the country to be led by an NHS body, which underlines the great potential for arts, culture and creativity to contribute even more to the health and wellbeing of local people.”

Bradford Council leader, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, welcomes the scheme, which hopes to generate up to 100,000 attendances at new arts and cultural events.

She said: “Culture enables people to explore skills and talents they never knew they had. It also gives people confidence and shows Bradford district off to our best advantage.

“The low levels of engagement in arts and culture in some wards highlight the challenges in delivering high-quality art relevant for a population that is younger and more diverse than any other eligible Creative People and Places area.”

A search is on for volunteer ‘changemakers’, whose role will include choosing and working with artists and encouraging people to get involved in activities. Training will be provided and expenses paid.

Anyone interested can get more details by e-mailing borninbradford@bthft.nhs.uk or calling 01274 364474. Further information about The Leap can be found at theleapbradford.co.uk.