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Barnard Castle Plays Host To Economic and Cultural Visit

10/10/2009

Barnard Castle is set to play host to a range of international dignitaries as part of the campaign to attract new investment to the town. 

 

Officials from France and the Netherlands are on a three day Economic and Cultural Visit at the Bowes Museum from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th October 2009. The aim is to bring together arts and regeneration experts from similar towns in Europe to share success stories. The visitors will also learn about cultural and economic activities in North East England.  The selected towns, Harfleur in France and Montfoort in the Netherlands, are both market towns of a comparable size to Barnard Castle with similar cultural and economic ideals, so it is hoped that the visit will provide plenty of good ideas to enable Barnard Castle to become as successful and flourishing as possible in future years.

 

Dr Anne Allen, of Barnard Castle Vision, said: “We are pleased to host a number of high level delegates at an event which will put Barnard Castle on the international map. This is not about cultural twinning. It is about promoting Barnard Castle as a European market town and working in partnership with other towns that have similar aspirations.

 

"Guests will include the French Consul, Economic and Cultural Development Leaders from Harfleur and Montfoort, Members of Ateliers D’Art de France (French Crafts Council), UK Trade and Investment and the British Embassy in The Hague. We will use this opportunity to forge close ties and make new contacts, all of which will enable the promotion of Barnard Castle and Teesdale as an ideal location for economic regeneration.”

 

On Friday 16 October, dignitaries will be treated to an evening reception and guided tour of the Bowes Museum, followed on Saturday 17th October by a walking tour of Barnard Castle town centre.  These activities will be 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.

 

Although the visit, hosted by Barnard Castle Vision, is firmly rooted in the town, the dignitaries will also be taken to visit Newcastle’s Quayside and tour an Anglo-French exhibition at the Sage, Gateshead. They will then return to Teesdale and visit Cotherstone for an escorted tour of its artists’ studios, demonstrating the life of creative and cultural businesses in the area.