Arts and culture are of increasing value to the Cumbrian economy as locals and visitors flock to museums, galleries, theatres and cinemas.

The money they spend in these attractions, as well as in hotels, restaurants and shops during their trips, helps keep the local economy vibrant.

We highlight the quality and depth of arts businsses and organisations in this region - and also suggests that creating a special arts and culture trail could help to provide an even bigger boost to the economy.

I have often rattled on about the arts being a real jewel in Cumbria’s crown.

Our creative industries have a major effect on the local economy as those who like the finer things in life flock to our region to soak up the many thriving music and theatre festivals, plethora of poetry and prose readings, umpteen concerts and gigs from across the musical spectrum, plus visual arts galore.

And all the venues and attractions – whether charitable trusts or com-mercial enterprises – employ basic business principles to some degree.

Box office, footfall, visitor numbers, bums on seats, call it what you will, but each and every one needs people to cross their threshold.

Many are long-estab-lished but they continue to develop and improve to ensure they are providing the best possible service to customers.

Lakes Alive’s director Julie Tait told me that she had spoken to several people who had made a weekend of coming up to Kendal for LA’s Mintfest in August, and from what I can gather, that’s just one example of the pulling power of our arts and culture scene.

I remember when Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant played the Brewery Art Centre in 2000 – and people descended on Kendal from all corners of the globe. They had to sleep and eat somewhere, contributing to the financial health and wealth of the area.

And if food’s the new rock and roll, there’s plenty to feast on in this part of the world.

Once in a meeting many moons ago with Arts Council England officers (and others), I went on at great length about how we should create a cultural trail through the county.

I suggested a planned route to some of our cultural hot spots aimed particularly at tourists. It went something like this...

One could bob into Kendal’s Abbot Hall Arts Gallery and see what superb exhibition director Edward King had gracing its walls then pop across the road to the Brewery for a meal before indulging oneself in a music or theatre perfor-mance at the unique arts centre.

After a night in one of the area’s fine hotels or guest houses it could be a trip to Blackwell Arts and Crafts House down the road at Bowness, staying for a jaunt to the World of Beatrix Potter, a look at what’s on offer at Pinfold Gallery, and maybe later a film at the Royalty.

Travelling up the A591, there’s Zeffirellis at Ambleside for fine food and a film (jazz, too, is on the menu there), art at Grasmere’s Heaton Cooper Studio as well as dipping your toe in the wonderful world of Romanticism at the Wordsworth Trust, before taking the breathtaking journey over Dunmail Raise to Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake – all great success stories.

Additionally, there could be visits to Coniston to both the Ruskin Museum and Brantwood, the latter where Victorian visionary John Ruskin spent the last 28 years of his life, much of it engaged in investigating the flora of his mountainside retreat.

Another option while over that way could be a sortie to creative cavaliers Grizedale Arts’ new architect-designed home within the former historic hill farm buildings of Lawson Park, located 200 metres up a farm track, on the western edge of Grizedale Forest.

It houses the Lawson Park Collection of furniture and decorative arts that tells the story of British design and its relationship with local vernacular from 1820.

Farfield Mill Arts and Heritage Centre, at Sedbergh, is another that could also be woven into the itinerary.

I know Cumbria Tourism constantly flies the flag for the region, and is well aware of its finer points. Maybe, an arts and culture trail could blaze its way into future plans.