A MAJOR arts project with exhibitions across East Lancashire has been given a £1million fast track to continue for the next three years.

The 'Super Slow Way' programme, which takes its inspiration from the 200 year-old Leeds and Liverpool Canal, has been awarded the grant by the Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places programme.

Originally funded by £2million from the national body for 2014-2017, in culminated in September with major multi-venue exhibition across Blackburn, Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle celebrating East Lancashire's textile heritage.

The ‘Fabrications Festival' runs from September took in venues including Gawthorpe Hall in Padiham, Brierfield Mill, Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, the Leeds Liverpool canal, and Elmfield Hall and Gatty Park in Accrington.

The new cash boost means it can continue with a second phase from 2018 to 2021.

Laurie Peake, project director for Super Slow Way, said: "We have exciting plans for the future which we can now put into action.”

It will enable the project to continue to establish the Leeds and Liverpool Canal corridor flowing through Pennine Lancashire as a place where local communities from Blackburn to Pendle can participate in and enjoy an ambitious, high quality arts programme.

A new series of projects will be commissioned, to reflect the cultural diversity and creativity of the communities that grew up along the historic waterway during the last 200 years.

Laurie Peake said: 'The grant will allow people to work with artists to create and enjoy work that explores and celebrates what makes this place special.

“In projects such as Festival of Making in Blackburn, the award-winning Beyond Labels project with Hollins Technical College in Accrington, the fabulous Burnley Canal Festival and the Shapes of Water, Sounds of Hope project in Brierfield, we have established some great relationships along the canal corridor.”

Jane Beardsworth, director north of Arts Council England said: “Over the last two years the Super Slow Way has engaged 40,000 people in the canal side communities as artists, participants and audiences.

"I’m delighted we have awarded additional funding to develop this programme and look forward to seeing how this artistic activity continues to connect different cultures and communities.”

The second phase of Super Slow Way 2018-21 is supported by the Canal and River Trust, local authorities of Pendle Borough Council, Burnley Borough Council, Hyndburn Borough Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council, Arts Partnership Pennine Lancashire, UClan as academic partner.