GIANT sculptures across East Lancashire and a very successful art exhibition have been heralded as a chance to attract more people to East Lancashire. But can art really make a difference to the area in the long term?

ON Monday, February 16, 1998, the Angel of the North was unveiled next to the A1 in Gateshead.

At the time, critics claimed it would become known as the Angel of Death' because it would distract drivers, or the Hell's Angel' because it was close to a part of Gateshead described as rundown'.

Even local councillors, who had authorised the £800,000 being spent on it had begun to get twitchy at lack of local support for the steel-made Angel with a 54-metre wing-span.

But when figures about the impact the angel was having on the local economy, and the image of the North East, attitudes began to change.

Since Anthony Gormley unveiled his sculpture, it is estimated 450,000 a year pull off the A1 to look at he Angel while its presence has been used by to help change perceptions of the North East.

"The Angel of the North is a symbol of so much that we can be proud of in Gateshead and the North East," said Coun John McElroy, who is cabinet member for culture at Gateshead Council, which commissioned the icon.

"As a people we are strong, creative, open and affectionate the Angel says it all for the public. It's a unique structure in a unique place. We are delighted our love for the Angel of the North is shared by the nation as a whole and we are seeing the benefits of that in terms of greater economic prosperity."

Nick Hunt, director of Burnley-based Mid Pennine Arts, dreams of a similar response to the planned Panopticons.

The six sculptures, costing around £2million in total, will be located on a site in each of East Lancashire's boroughs.

Blackburn's sculpture, a colourful carpet' viewing point in Corporation Park, is due to be completed later this year, followed by a boulder-like atom' from which people will see stunning views of Wycoller Country Park in Pendle.

Mr Hunt said: "The Angel of the North has demonstrated the power of art in so many ways.

"It changed the way people thought about the North East, and helped boost so many other regeneration projects around culture because people thought we can do that'.

"With the Panopticons, we hope to attract people to the area who will not only want to see one of the sculptures, but all six, so they will travel round, benefiting the economy in the process, but also getting people who live in this area out into the countryside and appreciating just how much the area has to offer."

Councils and Mid Pennine Arts have dabbled with such schemes before. The Irwell Sculpture trail places a number of artworks along a 30-mile stretch of the River Irwell. It has never realised its full potential, say experts, possibly because they are spread along a 30-mile route and not really signposted, but should be re-marketed once the Panopticons are completed.

Rather like the Angel of the North, the Panopticons have come under fire in some quarters. A suitable sculpture has yet to be found for Hyndburn, after Mid Pennine Arts swapped its idea for a flying saucer' to Rossendale after criticism from Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe.

And in Chatburn this week, where plans for a wall-like sculpture have been revealed after they were rejected by residents in Hurst Green, people have criticised the location, overlooking a quarry. Coun Howard Douglas, who represents the area, said: "I think there has to be a balance and the site chosen could provide that because it is out of the way, has parking but is close enough to the village for the businesses to benefit from extra shops."

It is that sort of impact, but across East Lancashire, which Mr Hunt hopes the Panopticons will have.

He said: "It is impossible to measure the impact art has on an area, but if it is marketed and brings extra people into the area, and encourages people to get out and see their area, it is anything but art just for art's sake."

Steve Rigby, director of culture, leisure and sport at Blackburn with Darwen Council, believes that if the area can prove it can handle big art schemes, then the rewards will be massive.

His authority unveiled a £500,000, eight-venue Asian art exhibition last month and visitor numbers at one of its bases, the Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, have doubled. He said: "Everyone wants their project to have the Angel of the North effect, giving people the confidence to go on with other ambitious projects.

"We want that to happen with the Panopticons but it is happening with C21. People are coming into the town and staying to look around."

Coun Dave Smith, Blackburn executive member for culture, leisure and sport, said: "Blackburn Rovers are seen weekly on television stations across Asia, so picking art from the countries where Rovers are shown made sense in terms of trying to raise awareness of the whole town across the world."

In Gateshead, after the Angel of the North came the Baltic Art Gallery on its Quayside, then the Sage Music centre last year, and a partnership with Newcastle to promote the whole of the area along the Tyne.

And it is that sort of partnership which Elevate East Lancashire, the body responsible for regenerating the area and its housing, hopes to forge to re-invent the area.

Already plans for re-naming East Lancs Pennine Lancashire' have been announced, and music guru turned regeneration expert Tony Wilson has been tasked with coming up with ideas to turn the area around.

Elevate chief executive Max Steinberg said: "Physical renovation work, remodelling and rebuilding of homes and neighbourhoods alone cannot transform East Lancashire's housing market. The importance of re-invigorating the area's image is vital."

Mr Wilson said: "We need to get the area talked about, and there are many ways of doing that.

"Look at what Blackburn with Darwen Council did with their Asian art project, it is bold and it has worked. That's the way forward. "