Ingleton Library is to get an artist-in-residence, thanks to a £100,000 grant from Arts Council England.

As part of a three-year Creative Residencies Programme, 24 artists from different creative backgrounds will be based in eight libraries – including Ingleton – working with library users and other community members on a range of projects. The inspiration for the initiative came from Skipton’s acclaimed Rewind! project, which won the national Libraries Change Lives award in 2012.

Supported by the library, it saw young people work with a professional musician to devise, fundraise and stage their own gigs and events.

The Creative Residencies Programme will use libraries as a resource for people to explore the nature of their communities through the arts and their own creative potential.

The aim is to widen participation in artistic activity, raise the profile of libraries and engage with children, families and older people to develop inter-generational projects that will be fun and inspiring. The project will start in the new year.

County Coun Chris Metcalfe, executive member for library and community services, said: “North Yorkshire’s libraries are at the heart of communities. I’m delighted that they are again taking an innovative approach to inspire people, widening horizons and ultimately improving people’s life chances.”