EMPTY barns, unvisited corners and neglected rooms have their chance to step into the spotlight in a new initiative to support creative young entrepreneurs.

Great Place: Lakes and Dales (GPLD), the project which is using arts, culture and heritage to encourage more under 35s to live and work in the area, wants to hear from property and landowners with under and unused spaces of all kinds. It needs locations for a pop up 48-hour creative showcase called Watch This Space which will see young people assigned spaces to try out their ideas.

Potential uses could include rehearsal or performance space, studio or exhibition facilities or even a workshop or other public engagement activity.

Said organiser, creative consultant Emily Wilson: “Our research shows that a lack of space is one of the main barriers to making cultural things happen for and by young people. This lack of access to space directly contradicts one of the Lakes and Dales best loved assets, which is its amazing amount of space. We have developed a pilot project in which young people can test, experiment and hopefully reverse this contradiction.

“We would like to hear from land and property owners who would allow GPLD to use their space for just 48 hours this October. By ‘space’ we mean anywhere that is unused or significantly underused. It can be on private land or in a public place. It can be remote, without electricity or running water (although we’d prefer some offers to have these) and it can be outside or inside. Examples include agricultural buildings, industrial units, fields or green spaces, empty shops, empty offices, a school (at certain times), community building, pavilion or sports field, village square/green or street corner, a wall or bridge, the list goes on.”

GPLD promises that the space will be in no way damaged during the 48 hours and it will be left as it was found.

Emily added: “Space owners will be helping young people in the area to learn new skills, test an idea and potentially start a new business, which in turn develops the local economy.”

The spaces will be matched up to successful applicants to the project who will be given 48 hours and a budget of £500 to set up, run and dismantle their idea. Applicants need to be aged 18-35, have a unique idea with culture and creativity at its heart and live or work within the Lakes and Dales area.Space owners can contact Emily on 07834 529753 or email create@lakesanddales.org. Emily urged people to get in touch even if they think their space may be unusable.

Potential applicants for Watch This Space can apply via www.lakesanddales.org/watch-this-space.