Walsall Council and its partners have secured £900,000 from Arts Council England to create new opportunities for thousands of young people across the borough.

The funding, awarded through Arts Council England's Place Partnership Fund, will support Creative Horizons, a three-year programme designed to connect children and young people with arts and culture, skills development, education and future employment opportunities.

The initiative will establish Walsall's first coordinated creative pathway, helping young people develop their talents, build confidence and explore careers in the creative industries.

More than 5,000 children and young people are expected to take part in accessible, community-based cultural activities and events through the programme's Creative Curiosity strand.

Two further strands, Creative Connections and Creative Careers, will focus on developing skills and training opportunities, alongside mentoring, work placements, apprenticeships, higher education and support for young people looking to establish creative businesses.

The programme will be delivered through a partnership led by Walsall Council, alongside The New Art Gallery Walsall, Walsall Arena and Arts Centre, Walsall Leather Museum, One Walsall Cultural Compact, Walsall College, the University of Wolverhampton and Urban Hax, together with local cultural organisations.

Activities will particularly target communities experiencing higher levels of deprivation and lower participation in cultural activities, helping make creative opportunities more accessible across the borough.

Councillor Matt Eason, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Health and Wellbeing at Walsall Council, said the funding would help thousands of young people develop new skills, build confidence and access pathways into rewarding careers.

Creative Horizons is expected to begin later this year, with activities taking place across Walsall over the next three years.