A POETRY project stretching from York to China was one of 42 arts projects in the region to benefit from thousands of pounds worth of investment.

Arts Council England, Yorkshire, has ploughed another £323,109 into the arts scene, including £1,000 to help villagers in Thixendale weave a picture of community life through the ages.

The latest round of awards aims to help artists develop professionally and enable organisations to bring life-changing rewards to their communities. Last year, 890 awards were made, topping £6.1 million.

Andy Carver, of Arts Council England, Yorkshire, said: "These grants support a wide range of arts activity, opening up new and accessible ways for people and communities to enjoy and become involved in the arts.

"Many of the events which we support help keep rural communities alive, boosting tourism and the local economy."

Thixendale village hall, a newly-restored listed building, will be used for a wide range of activities. The £1,000 grant will bring community members together for the creation of a textile banner, depicting village life past and present, featuring flora and fauna and geographical features found in the area.

Meanwhile, York poet and playwright Antony Dunn received £2,830 for an exchange project with China.

The 32-year-old, a marketing officer with the Riding Lights Theatre Company in York, is one of five UK poets participating in the Poet to Poet translation project.

The British poets stayed in China last month to work with five Chinese poets.

They talked through the meaning behind every word of their Chinese peers' poems to help recreate them, in their true sense, in English.

They spent six days at a writers' centre and then some time in Beijing to try to gain as much understanding as possible about Chinese cultural history.

"You can't begin to translate a country's poetry unless you understand at least part of their culture," he said.

The British poets will play host to their Chinese guests in September which may result in a poetry book being published in both countries.

"I loved the experience," said the former St Peter's School student. "It is the most extraordinary place, magical."

Meanwhile, Knaresborough Festival of Entertainment and Visual Arts - FEVA - which will see local artists creating innovative paintings for the Arts Trail in the festival from August 12 to 21, was awarded £4,410.

Two new projects in this year's festival will be an exhibition from the "design a flag" competition for local schools, and a sculpture park project with pupils from King James's School.

For details about the grants for the Arts programme phone Arts Council England on 0845 300 6200 or visit www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding

Updated: 10:24 Friday, July 15, 2005