Bradford, Blackpool and the Lake District have been awarded a share of £15 million to develop cultural projects as part of the legacy of the Great Exhibition of the North.
£4 million will help transform the vacant former Bradford Odeon cinema into a 4,000 capacity live music, entertainment and events venue.
The 1930s twin domed cinema has been vacant since 2000. The redevelopment will bring Bradford back on the touring circuit.
£4 million will be used to create Blackpool's first museum, The Amuseum, which will celebrate the town's history as the UK's first mass seaside
holiday resort
The museum will be the biggest development of its kind in the North West. It is expected to attract almost 300,000 visitors a year and will be built along the world famous promenade.
Nearly £3.3 million will be used to enhance the visitor experience at cultural attractions across the Lake District - the UK's newest World Heritage Site
Regeneration projects aim to increase access and improve exhibitions, creating 150 permanent jobs and boosting cultural tourism to the newly designated World Heritage Site.
Michael Ellis, Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism, said:
"These exciting projects will provide a true cultural legacy for people across the North that increases tourism, boosts local economies and creates jobs for the future.
"They reflect the diversity and unique identity of Blackpool, Bradford and the Lake District and will enable them to realise their exciting cultural ambitions."
