IN the midst of austerity, arts and culture make a tempting target for public sector cuts and many of our communities have felt the impact.

Darlington has been one of them, with the closure of the popular arts centre remaining a source of controversy.

Arts-lovers have rallied round admirably to protect the town’s cultural offering, and the volunteer-led Darlington for Culture group deserves great credit for the work it has done, including organising an annual arts festival.

The local cultural scene was due some positive news and it arrived at the double yesterday.

After a period in which the birthplace of the railways faced the unthinkable prospect of losing its railway museum, Darlington Borough Council last night rubber-stamped its continued support for Head of Steam and, earlier in the day, it was announced that funding has been secured for a flagship children’s theatre in the town.

The £1.5m Arts Council grant, awarded to Theatre Hullaballoo – in conjunction with the borough council and the Civic Theatre – will see the creation of the first specialist children’s theatre north of London.

The Civic Theatre is already one of the town’s prize assets, attracting audiences from across the North-East and North Yorkshire. The Hullaballoon children’s theatre, which will now be established in an empty building next door, is part of an exciting expansion of a venue with a rich heritage dating back to 1907.

In the face of severe budget cuts, Darlington Borough Council is right to go on supporting the Civic Theatre, and all those involved in the Hullaballoon vision should take a bow.

There has been a north-south divide on Arts Council funding within our own region for too long and we welcome this investment in Darlington as a dramatic step in the right direction.