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Barnard Castle to profit from economic and cultural exchange

Barnard Castle in County Durham recently played host to a range of international dignitaries as part of a campaign to attract new economic regeneration investment to the town.

Officials from two market towns on the continent, Harfleur in France and Montfoort in the Netherlands, visited Barnard Castle as part of a three day Economic and Cultural Visit to gain an insight into cultural and economic activities in North East England.

Guests included the French Consul, Economic and Cultural Development Leaders from Harfleur and Montfoort and Members of Ateliers D’Art de France (French Crafts Council). Dr Anne Allen of Barnard Castle Vision said: “The many activities across the weekend have enabled us to form meaningful relationships with our European partners and equipped us with many new ideas to benefit Barnard Castle in coming years.

“As a direct result of the visit, the three towns have committed to work together in submitting a joint three-way funding bid between the three towns to access European regeneration funds only accessible to partners in three separate countries.

“Our next step will be a conference report and regular teleconference meetings with partners to maintain the dialogue between us all. We are keen to obtain as many funds as possible to help improve our towns on every front.”

As part of their visit, the dignitaries were treated to an evening reception and guided tour of the Bowes Museum, followed by a walking tour of Barnard Castle town centre accompanied by a series of workshops to discuss street proposals, shop front designs and the establishment of a Craft Quarter in the centre of the town.

After visiting Newcastle’s Quayside and an Anglo-French exhibition at the Sage, Gateshead, they also returned to Teesdale to visit Cotherstone for an escorted tour of its artists’ studios, gaining a thorough insight into the life of creative and cultural businesses in the area.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .