Four arts groups share in a £70,000 cash boost from the Arts Council to develop their work and reach new audiences.

The South Square Centre on Thornton Road, Bradford, has received the most locally £41,520. The centre, which currently has gallery spaces for local artists to exhibit work, will use the money to expand further.

Co-curator Caroline Hick said they would develop a contemporary art gallery so that more artists would be able to exhibit their work.

"A lot of work has already gone on but, as a voluntary organisation, any funding that helps us to expand is great," said Miss Hick.

Another project to receive funding is Four Fathers led by author and former Bradford reading development worker Tom Palmer.

Together with three other authors Ray French, John Siddique and James Nash Mr Palmer has written about his relationship with his father and his own experience of being a father in a book, also called Four Fathers, published by Route.

The authors will use the £22,500 grant to tour the UK, talking to audiences about the book and encouraging people to read.

Route director Ian Daley said that the four men had already been touring with the section of the book about their relationships with their fathers and the response was surprising.

He said: "We have never seen reading events like it; they were really popular and the audience got really involved."

Mr Daley said that part of the tour was focused on encouraging young men to read more fiction.

Ceramic artist Mary North has received £5,000 to buy equipment for her studio. Mary creates sculptures for gardens and conservatories, such as bird baths and tables.

Circus company Arabesque gets £5,000 to buy an aerial rig to produce new work.

The executive director of Arts Council England Yorkshire, Andy Carver, commented: "These awards support a wide range of arts activities across the region.

"We are investing in individual artists and arts organisations, contributing to the creative economy, reaching new audiences, enriching the lives of communities, and providing opportunities for young people to experience the arts."

e-mail: sunita.bhatti@bradford.newsquest.co.uk