YORK is set to benefit from a massive £1.75 million National Lottery handout to encourage creativity among young people, it was revealed today.

It is among five Yorkshire cities given the cash boost by the Millennium Commission and Arts Council England, through the Urban Cultural Programme.

This new initiative builds on the successful European Capital of Culture 2008 competition run in 2003, which Bradford entered, and which generated huge support in all sectors of the community.

The Yorkshire Five Cities bid, Illumination, is a two-year programme of activity that will be delivered in York, Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield and Hull. The aim of the programme is to develop an exceptional level of cultural activity at a community level, contributing to regeneration, community cohesion and civic pride.

Focusing on celebrating local cultural talent and encouraging creativity in young people, it will involve a series of exhibitions, commissions, festivals and performances, and a network of cultural puppeteers and animators called Lamplighters.

Tessa Jowell MP, chairwoman of the Millennium Commission and Secretary of State for Culture, said: "I am delighted that National Lottery funding will be supporting an exciting and innovative programme in Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield, York and Hull.

"The European Capital of Culture competition stimulated the creation of a wonderful range of creative and ambitious plans in cities across the UK.

"The Urban Cultural Programme will mean that many of those aspirations can become reality.

"Our arts are world class. They fire our children's imagination, promote social inclusion, celebrate our cultural diversity and help drive the regeneration of our cities.

"The National Lottery is approaching its tenth birthday and it is absolutely right that we should support the creativity and diverse traditions of communities across the UK."

Andy Carver, executive director of Arts Council England, Yorkshire, said: "Bradford's bid to become the Capital of Culture 2008 created an extraordinary momentum and I am delighted that we can continue to build on that legacy with a programme that will benefit communities not only in Bradford, but in Leeds, Sheffield, Hull and York too.

"We know that culture-led regeneration enriches lives and raises aspirations and the Urban Cultural Programme funding will help make that a reality in this region."

Updated: 09:09 Monday, July 26, 2004