A SUCCESSFUL pilot scheme linking schools and art is to be extended to cover Bury and Rochdale.

The Artists in Schools Agency has been operating in Bolton for the last 18 months costing £55,000.

More than 200 days of work was created for local artists and a further 40 artists were trained.

A report to the council's cultural sub-committee describes how the new agency will cover three towns.

It will be subject to a successful bid for grants from the Arts Council for Lottery Funding covering the next three years.

The new agency is expected to involve 10,000 local children.

Cllr Don Eastwood, education and arts chairman, said: "The current scheme has been highly successful and has enriched the lives of children at the same time providing employment for artists.

"Education authorities and schools now don't have the time to organise complex projects. Children have also gained a great deal from working together with artists and children from different schools."

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