Editing Lancaster, Lancashire (section)

==Culture==
[[File:Lancaster St. Peter Cathedral.JPG|thumb|right|[[Lancaster Cathedral]]]]
[[File:Lancaster museum - geograph.org.uk - 945324.jpg|thumb|right|[[Lancaster City Museum]], [[Market Square, Lancaster|Market Square]]]]
[[File:Lune Millennium Bridge from northern bank.jpg|thumb|Lune Millennium Bridge]]
[[File:Penny's Hospital, Lancaster.jpg|thumb|left|Penny's Hospital [[almshouse]]s]]
{{see also|Roses rivalry}}
Lancaster has a range of historic buildings and venues, having retained many fine examples of [[Georgian architecture]]. [[Lancaster Castle]], the [[Lancaster Priory|Priory Church of St Mary]] and the Edwardian [[Ashton Memorial]] are among the sites of historical importance. Its many museums include [[Lancaster City Museum]], [[Custom House, Lancaster|Maritime Museum]], the Cottage Museum<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums/the-cottage-museum.aspx |title=The Cottage Museum |first=Lancashire County |last=Council |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=15 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615043831/http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums/the-cottage-museum.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Judges' Lodgings, Lancaster|Judges' Lodgings Museum]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Judges' Lodgings Museum |url=https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums/judges-lodgings/ |website=Lancashire.gov.uk |publisher=Lancashire County Council |access-date=20 July 2023}}</ref>

[[Friends Meeting House, Lancaster|Lancaster Friends Meeting House]], dating from 1708, is the longest continual [[Quaker]] meeting site in the world, with an original building built in 1677. [[George Fox]], founder of [[Quakers|Quakerism]], was near the site several times in the 1660s and spent two years imprisoned in Lancaster Castle.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.visitlancashire.com/things-to-do/friends-meeting-house-lancaster-p11602 |title=Friends Meeting House, Lancaster – Church/Chapel in Lancaster, Lancaster – Visit Lancashire |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815034433/http://www.visitlancashire.com/things-to-do/friends-meeting-house-lancaster-p11602 |archive-date=15 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The meeting house holds regular Quaker meetings and a wide range of cultural activities including adult learning, meditation, art classes, music and political meetings. [[Lancaster Grand Theatre]] is another historic cultural venue, under its many names. It has played a major part in social and cultural life since it was built in 1782.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://lancastergrand.co.uk/about/history/ |title=History |access-date=25 October 2020 |archive-date=28 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028205917/https://lancastergrand.co.uk/about/history/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Lancaster Castle - 2023-03-25.jpg|left|thumb|Lancaster Castle]]
Lancaster is known nationally for its Arts scene.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/local/arts-boss-praises-city-s-culture-1-7864214 |title=Arts boss praises city's culture |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=17 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617215918/http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/local/arts-boss-praises-city-s-culture-1-7864214 |url-status=live}}</ref> There are around 600 business and organisations in the region involved directly or indirectly in arts and culture.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://issuu.com/liveatlica/docs/lap_economic_impact_study_exec_summary_07.01.11 |title=Economic Impact Study: Executive Summary |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=7 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807205940/https://issuu.com/liveatlica/docs/lap_economic_impact_study_exec_summary_07.01.11 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2009, several major arts bodies based in the district formed a consortium called Lancaster Arts Partners (LAP) to champion strategic development of arts activities in Lancaster District.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.artscity.co.uk/about-us/ |title=About Us |date=18 March 2016 |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=29 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529204933/http://www.artscity.co.uk/about-us/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Notable partners include Ludus Dance,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ludusdance.org/ |title=Ludus Dance – Dance Classes in Lancaster – Dance School Lancaster |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=30 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630041432/http://www.ludusdance.org/ |url-status=live}}</ref> More Music<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.moremusic.org.uk/ |title=More Music – Education & Music Charity – More Music Morecambe |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=14 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614012318/http://www.moremusic.org.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and the Dukes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://dukeslancaster.org/ |title=Lancaster Theatre and Cinema |website=Laleham |access-date=25 October 2020 |archive-date=24 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024194600/https://dukeslancaster.org/ |url-status=live}}</ref> LAP curates and promotes "Lancaster First Fridays", a monthly multi-disciplinary mini-festival under its brand "Lancaster Arts City".

Lancaster University has a public arts organisation, part of LAP, known as [[Lancaster Arts at Lancaster University]]. Its programmes include Lancaster's [[Lancaster Arts at Lancaster University#Nuffield Theatre|Nuffield Theatre]], one of the largest professional studio theatres in Europe, the [[Lancaster Arts at Lancaster University#Peter Scott Gallery|Peter Scott Gallery]], with the most significant collection of Royal Lancastrian ceramics in Britain, and the [[Lancaster Arts at Lancaster University#Lancaster Concert Series|Lancaster International Concerts Series]], drawing nationally and internationally renowned classical and world-music artists.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.lancasterarts.org/about-us |title=About Us ‹ Welcome to Lancaster Arts |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=10 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810003334/https://www.lancasterarts.org/about-us |url-status=live}}</ref>

The gallery in the Storey Creative Industries Centre is now programmed and run by Lancaster City Council. In 2013 the previous incumbent organisation "The Storey Gallery" moved out of the building and reformed as "Storey G2".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.storeyg2.org.uk/about-storeyg2/ |title=Storey G2 : About StoreyG2 - previously known as Storey Gallery |website=www.storeyg2.org.uk |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=17 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617012357/http://www.storeyg2.org.uk/about-storeyg2/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The Storey Creative Industries Centre is also home to Lancaster's Litfest, which runs an annual literature festival. In the summer months [[Williamson Park]] hosts outdoor performances, including a Dukes "Play in the Park", which over the past 26 years has attracted 460,000 people, as the UK's biggest outdoor walkabout theatre event.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/jul/04/lancaster-theatre-williamson-park-the-dukes |title=Lancaster's Dukes theatre: the great outdoors |first=Helen |last=Pidd |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=4 July 2013 |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=17 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817053820/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/jul/04/lancaster-theatre-williamson-park-the-dukes |url-status=live}}</ref>

Lancaster is known as the Northern City of Ale, with almost 30 pubs serving cask ale.<ref name="Price">{{Cite web |url=http://www.northerncityofale.co.uk/ |title=Lancaster Northern City of Ale |last=Price |first=Chris |website=www.northerncityofale.co.uk |access-date=20 August 2016 |archive-date=8 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308070116/http://northerncityofale.co.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/business/city-centre-cask-ale-trail-is-16m-holy-grail-1-6937475 |title=City centre cask ale trail is £16m Holy Grail |website=www.lancasterguardian.co.uk |access-date=20 August 2016 |archive-date=21 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821134638/http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/business/city-centre-cask-ale-trail-is-16m-holy-grail-1-6937475 |url-status=live}}</ref> The pubs include the ''White Cross'', ''Three Mariners'', ''Borough'' and ''Water Witch''.<ref name="Price"/> There are two cask ale breweries: Lancaster Brewery and a microbrewery run by the Borough. There is a local CAMRA ([[Campaign for Real Ale]]) branch at Lunesdale.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lunesdalecamra.org.uk/home/index.php |title=Lunesdale CAMRA: Home Page |website=www.lunesdalecamra.org.uk |access-date=20 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825220639/http://www.lunesdalecamra.org.uk/home/index.php |archive-date=25 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Grand Theatre (Lancaster)|Lancaster Grand Theatre]] and [[Duke's Playhouse|the Dukes]] are notable venues for live performance, as are the Yorkshire House (currently closed), Jailors Barrel, The John O' Gaunt and The Bobbin. Throughout the year events are held in and around the city, such as the Lancaster Music Festival, Lancaster Jazz Festival, and [[Chinese New Year]] celebrations in the city centre.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancasterchinesenewyear.org.uk |title=Lancaster Chinese New Year Festival – Lancaster Business Improvement District Joins Us for Chinese New Year 2016}}</ref>

Every November the city hosts a daylight and art festival entitled "Light Up Lancaster",<ref>[http://lightuplancaster.co.uk/ Light Up Lancaster, May 2016] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614123237/http://lightuplancaster.co.uk/ |date=14 June 2016 }}.</ref> which includes a prominent fireworks display.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/events/details/1190 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831235157/http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/events/details/1190/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 August 2012 |title=Lancaster Fireworks Spectacular 2012 |last=ianjackson |date=12 March 2012 |website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk}}</ref>

Lancaster still has two city-centre cinemas; Vue and the Dukes playhouse. The 1930s [[art deco]] ''Regal Cinema'' closed in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancastertoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=31&ArticleID=1702784 |title=Lancaster Guardian}}</ref> [[The Gregson Centre]] is also known for small film screenings and cultural events.

===Art and literature===
John Henderson (c.1770–1853) painted many views of the town. One of these, together with a poetical illustration (which relates to the treacherous sands of Morecambe Bay) by [[Letitia Elizabeth Landon]], was published in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833.<ref>{{cite book|last =Landon|first=Letitia Elizabeth|title=Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833|url=https://digital.tcl.sc.edu/digital/collection/annuals/id/9625|section=poetical illustration|pages=28-30|year=1832|publisher=Fisher, Son & Co.}}{{cite book|last =Landon|first=Letitia Elizabeth|title=Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833|url=https://digital.tcl.sc.edu/digital/collection/annuals/id/9626|section=picture|year=1832|publisher=Fisher, Son & Co.}}</ref>
{{wikisource|Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.) in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833/Lancaster|Lancaster, a poetical illustration by L. E. L.}}

===Music===
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2016}}

The city's semi-professional [[Haffner Orchestra]] has a reputation for classical music. It performs in the Ashton Hall in the city centre and at Lancaster University.

During parades and festivals it is common to see two other long standing musical groups perform. Lancaster City Brass is the oldest remaining brass band in the city, founded in 1946.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lancaster City Brass |url=https://www.lancastercitybrass.com/ |website=www.lancastercitybrass.com |access-date=12 May 2025}}</ref>  Batala Lancaster is a 60-strong [[samba reggae]] drumming band, established in 2004 and one of 45 bands in 17 countries in the [[Batala (music)|Batala]] project; they have twice won Best Brazilian Band at [[Notting Hill Carnival]].<ref>{{cite web |title=About us |url=https://batalalancaster.com/about-us/ |publisher=Batala Lancaster |access-date=12 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Inman |first1=Louise |title=Lancaster Band to Storm the Castle |url=https://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/arts-and-culture/lancaster-band-to-storm-the-castle-4816680 |access-date=12 May 2025 |work=Lancaster Guardian |date=9 October 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

Lancaster has been producing successful bands and musicians since the 1990s, notably the drummer [[Keith Baxter (drummer)|Keith Baxter]] of [[3 Colours Red]].The all-girl punk-rock band [[Angelica (band)|Angelica]] used the Lancaster Musicians' Co-operative, the main rehearsal and recording studio in the area. 

The city has also produced many other musicians, including singer and songwriter [[John Waite]], who first became known as lead singer of [[The Babys]] and had a solo #1 hit in the US, "[[Missing You (John Waite song)|Missing You]]". As part of the band [[Bad English]], John Waite also had a #1 hit in the Billboard top hundred in the 1970s called "[[When I See You Smile]]". Additionally, Paul James, better known as The Rev, former guitarist of English punk band [[Towers of London (band)|Towers of London]] who is now in the band [[Day 21]] and plays guitar live on tour for [[The Prodigy]]; [[Chris Acland]], drummer of the early 1990s shoegaze band [[Lush (band)|Lush]]; Tom English, drummer of North East indie band [[Maxïmo Park]] and [[Steve Kemp (musician)|Steve Kemp]], drummer of the indie band [[Hard-Fi]].

Lancaster continues to produce bands and musicians such as singer-songwriter [[Jay Diggins]], and acts like [[The Lovely Eggs]], receiving considerable national radio play and press coverage in recent years. More recently, Lancaster locals [[Massive Wagons]] signed to Nottingham-based independent label [[Earache Records]].

Since 2006, Lancaster Library has hosted regular music events under the ''Get it Loud in Libraries'' initiative. Musicians such as Clean Bandit, The Long Blondes, Ellie Goulding, Marina And The Diamonds, Jessie J, Wolf Alice, [[The Wombats]], [[The Thrills]], [[Kate Nash]], [[Adele]] and [[Bat for Lashes]] have taken part.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries/services/getitloud/index.asp |title=Lancashire County Library and Information Service – Get it Loud in Lancaster Music Library |access-date=26 February 2008 |publisher=Lancashire County Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906165621/http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries/services/getitloud/index.asp |archive-date=6 September 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Get It Loud in Libraries has gained national exposure, featuring on The One Show on BBC1 and having gigs reviewed in ''Observer Music Monthly'', ''[[NME]]'' and ''Art Rocker''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries/services/getitloud/accolades.asp |title=Lancaster Music Library - Get It Loud |access-date=23 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926103728/http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries/services/getitloud/accolades.asp |archive-date=26 September 2008}}</ref>

Notable popular music venues include [[Duke's Playhouse|The Dukes]], [[Grand Theatre (Lancaster)|The Grand Theatre]], and [[The Gregson Centre]]. 

====Festivals====
The Lancaster Jazz and Lancaster Music Festivals are respectively held every September and October, at venues throughout the city. In 2013 the headline jazz act was The [[Neil Cowley]] Trio, performing at The Dukes, whilst one of the Lancaster Music Festival headline acts was [[Jay Diggins]] at the Dalton Rooms.<ref name="English Lakes">{{Cite web |url=https://blog.englishlakes.co.uk/2013/10/09/lancaster-music-festival-something-for-everyone/ |title=Lancaster Music Festival – Something for Everyone |last=Tina |date=9 October 2013 |access-date=4 July 2016 |archive-date=13 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813042306/https://blog.englishlakes.co.uk/2013/10/09/lancaster-music-festival-something-for-everyone/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Highest Point Festival]] takes place in Williamson Park each summer, and is a successor to the A-Wing festival which was held in Lancaster Castle from 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=The history of Highest Point Festival |url=https://www.skiddle.com/news/all/The-history-of-Highest-Point-Festival/55092/ |website=Skiddle.com |publisher=[[Skiddle]] |access-date=10 May 2024 |language=en |date=18 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Highest Point returns to Williamson Park |url=https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/news/2024/apr/highest-point-returns-to-williamson-park |website= |publisher=Lancaster City Council |access-date=10 May 2024 |date=30 April 2024}}</ref>

===Media===
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2016}}
Local radio stations include [[Heart North West]] (formerly "The Bay"), [[BBC Radio Lancashire]], and [[Beyond Radio]] is a voluntary, non-profit community radio station for Lancaster and Morecambe.<ref>Online broadcasting [http://www.beyondradio.co.uk Beyond Radio] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506080737/https://www.beyondradio.co.uk/ |date=6 May 2021 }}.</ref>

Lancaster University has its own student radio station, [[Bailrigg FM]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bailrigg FM – Your Student Sound |url=https://bailriggradio.lancastersu.co.uk/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |language=en-GB}}</ref> an online student-run television station called [[LA1TV]] (formerly LUTube.tv)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.la1tv.co.uk/ |title=LA1TV |website=LA1TV |access-date=25 October 2020 |archive-date=28 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028210430/https://www.la1tv.co.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and a student-run newspaper named [[SCAN (newspaper)|SCAN]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://scan.lusu.co.uk/ |title=SCAN – SCAN: Student Comment and News at Lancaster University |access-date=28 February 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072038/http://scan.lusu.co.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Local TV coverage is provided by ''[[BBC North West Tonight]]'' and ''[[ITV Granada Reports]]''.

The city was home to the film production company A1 Pictures,<ref>{{Cite web |title=A1 PICTURES LTD filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07000954/filing-history |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> which founded the independent film brand Capture.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

Commercially available newspapers include ''The Lancaster Guardian'' and ''The Visitor'' (mainly targeted at residents of Morecambe). ''Virtual Lancaster'', founded in 1999, is a non-commercial volunteer-led resource website also featuring local news, events and visitor information.

===Twinned cities===
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the United Kingdom}}
Lancaster is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref>[http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/the-council-and-democracy/civic-and-ceremonial/twin-towns Lancaster City Council, Twin Towns] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121232610/http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/the-council-and-democracy/civic-and-ceremonial/twin-towns |date=21 January 2019 }} retrieved 21 January 2019.</ref>
*[[Aalborg]], Denmark<ref name="Aalborg twinnings">{{Cite web |url=http://www.europeprize.net/en/?page_id=5 |title=Aalborg Twin Towns |publisher=Europeprize.net |access-date=19 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907145357/http://www.europeprize.net/en/?page_id=5 |archive-date=7 September 2013}}</ref>
*[[Lublin]], Poland<ref name="Lublin twinnings">{{Cite web |url=http://www.lublin.eu/Miasta_partnerskie_Lublina-1-443-3-413_436.html |title=Miasta Partnerskie Lublina |access-date=7 August 2013 |website=www.lublin.eu |publisher=Urząd Miasta Lublin (City of Lublin) |language=pl |trans-title=Lublin – Partnership Cities |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116171020/http://lublin.eu/Miasta_partnerskie_Lublina-1-443-3-413_436.html |archive-date=16 January 2013}}</ref>
*[[Perpignan]], France<ref name="Archant twinning">{{Cite web |url=http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |title=British towns twinned with French towns |access-date=11 July 2013 |work=Archant Community Media Ltd |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705094933/http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |archive-date=5 July 2013}}</ref>
*[[Rendsburg]], Germany
*[[Växjö]], Sweden