Medway has been named as one of 54 "priority places" by Arts Council England, in its drive to improve cultural investment in communities around the country.

The Arts Council today announced its list of areas to focus on as part of the publication of its three year Delivery Plan for 2021 - 2024, highlighting where there are opportunities for "investment, collaboration, and progress" in the culture sector.

In the South East ten nine areas are named, while in Kent only Dover joins Medway on the priority list.

The Arts Council says its Delivery Plan follows the Government’s £1.96 billion Culture Recovery Fund, administered by the Arts Council and other bodies - said to be the "biggest one-off investment in culture from the Government in history".

It also notes Medway has received £1,028,821 investment from the Arts Council through the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, and says it will work closely with the new priority locations to develop new opportunities for investment.

The locations were chosen following a review of current public investment and opportunities to engage with creative and cultural activity.

Cllr Howard Doe, Deputy Leader of Medway Council and Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said: “We are delighted that Medway has been highlighted by Arts Council England as one of their priority places. Medway is currently at an important point in its creative journey. Our new ten-year cultural strategy provides a bold new vision that speaks to Medway’s broadest aspirations to put culture centre stage. Championed by the new Creative Medway Compact, formed of creatives, educators, regeneration and business experts alongside health and wellbeing professionals it sets out how we will show the rest of the world how proud we are of our home."

“There are significant opportunities offered to us on many fronts; through our monumental regeneration programme, our economic potential, our geographical advantage, our bid to become UK City of Culture in 2025, our aspiration to become a Child-Friendly City as well as our bid for City Status as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Our ambition is to be internationally recognised for the area’s creativity and culture by 2030. Diverse, collaborative and engaged, we will celebrate the strengths and creativity of all our residents.”

Last month Medway was named as one of 20 regions in the running to be named City of Culture 2025, and the initial list is set to be reduced by the end of the month to a list of six or ten bidders.

Those still in the running then have until January to write their full bid proposal.

In February the shortlist of three will be announced with judges visiting in March, before the winner is announced on The One Show in May.

Of the 20 areas listed in the City of Culture Shortlist, only four are named specifically in the Arts Council's 'priority places' announcement - namely Medway, County Durham, Great Yarmouth and Wolverhampton.

Other bids will benefit indirectly however, with 'priority places' Barrow-in Furness, Copeland and Blackburn falling within the Borderlands and Lancashire regions bidding for City of Culture status.

Read more: all the latest news from Medway.