ORGANISATIONS across North Yorkshire have joined forces to celebrate the county's cultural life.

This week will see the launch of a new strategy aimed at opening up a wider variety of opportunities for all sectors of the community.

Leading members of the arts, heritage and sports worlds are uniting in a spirit of greater co-operation and co-ordination.

The strategy has been designed to guide the county through the next decade and will be officially launched at the Black Sheep Brewery in Masham on Friday.

Group chairman, Hambleton council's head of Tourism and Leisure Dave Goodwin, said it was the culmination of two years planning.

He said: "This is just the start of greater opportunities for the county.

"Culture for young people is often centred around fashion, music and, at the moment, skateboarding and surfing.

"But for older people, it may be the enjoyment of the countryside, a new course of study or undertaking some form of art or craft," said Mr Goodwin.

Speaking of the new strategy, he said: "This framework encourages more joined-up thinking between different groups and agencies and will ensure a wider variety of opportunities open up for everyone."

The strategy, named Special Place, Special People, takes a wide definition of culture encompassing, among many other things, sport, music, dance, drama, historic buildings, the natural landscape, customs and traditions, tourism, nature and cuisine.

It has been drawn up by officials from local councils and National Park authorities, working with members representing regional agencies including Sport England, Yorkshire Arts and English Heritage.

Mr Goodwin said: "We want to spread the word on how important culture is to society.

"This launch will begin the process of people with influence working together. North Yorkshire does have special people and special places and we want to build on those firm foundations.