TOWNS and cities across the North-East will be able to bid for a share of a new £15m fund to help build a lasting regional legacy from the Great Exhibition of the North.

Projects could include opening a new tech start-up centre or renovating live music venues and should increase opportunities for people to experience, benefit and contribute to culture and creativity, Culture Secretary Karen Bradley will announce today.

The Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund will make grants of up to £4m available to support major culture and tech capital projects.

It aims to build on the impact of next year’s exhibition in Newcastle and Gateshead next summer and help pave the way for future investment in the “Northern Powerhouse”.

Set to be the biggest event in 2018, the £5m government-funded exhibition will showcase the best of northern art, design and innovation.

The free exhibition aims to engage communities and businesses from across the region, and promote it to the world.

Ms Bradley said: “This £15m fund is a fantastic chance for towns and cities to develop inspirational projects that could have a transformative local effect – particularly in communities that have seen less cultural or creative investment in the past.

“We want as many people as possible to benefit from the Great Exhibition of the North, and this fund will boost the Northern Powerhouse and help build a lasting legacy across the whole region.”

Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry said: “The North is a cultural powerhouse, as well as an economic one, and this £15m fund will give a boost to the region’s vibrant culture and tech sectors."

The minister added: "We’ve already invested over £3.4bn for projects to boost local economies in the Northern Powerhouse and this latest funding will help make sure the Great Exhibition of the North creates a legacy for years to come.”