A MAJOR new centre for the arts and culture could open in Keighley.

Ambitious plans have been unveiled for a town-centre development including up to 50 artists' studios, a gallery and performance spaces.

There would also be workshop accommodation for professional and community arts classes, activities and events.

And it is hoped to have a bar/cafe and retail businesses within the same premises.

Behind the initiative is Keighley Creative, which is currently based at the former Sunwin House store in Hanover Street.

The charity only has the building on a temporary let. The new centre would give the organisation a permanent home.

Caroline Ward, who is head of shared services at Keighley College and chairs Keighley Creative, said: "This is such a great opportunity for ourselves and the town.

"We have seen our organisation develop rapidly in the last two years and establish a strong reputation locally. We're now getting national recognition from financial investment bodies such as Arts Council England, which is supporting different aspects of our in- house and outreach arts and creative endeavours.

£25m priorities for Keighley and Shipley to be set out

"Keighley deserves its own cultural centre, which can be a vibrant meeting place to offer new experiences and opportunities to small businesses."

She added that the arts were recognised as an important component in rejuvenating town centres in terms of tourism and the night-time economy and bringing in additional investment and jobs.

The charity is putting forward the scheme as a proposal to Keighley's Towns Fund board.

If chosen, the project could benefit from the Government regeneration programme which is making up to £25 million available to chosen towns – including Keighley and Shipley.

Keighley Creative is also submitting a second, separate proposal.

It wants to establish Keighley Arts and Film Festival (KAFF) as a high-profile, permanent annual event that would host a wide range of performances and participative events for all residents – plus attract audiences from further afield.

The inaugural festival last year attracted over 5,000 people across four days.

Prior to it there was a three-month programme of community-based workshops and outreach activities – to create films, dance and arts installations – and events such as a Cliffe Castle Park lantern and music parade.

Jan Smithies, Keighley Creative treasurer and one of the festival founders, said “We have already begun meeting with around 12 local partners and a number of district-wide bodies such as Bradford City of Culture 2025, Bradford City of Film and Ilkley Literature Festival to look at ways we can link with them to make KAFF 2021 an even bigger, celebratory long weekend of enjoyment, fun and new experiences."