Applications are now being invited by Arts Council England (ACE) for a £500,000 initiative designed to help artists transform empty high street shops into places promoting artistic activity.

The 'Art in empty spaces' programme was launched in April in a bid to support a £3m scheme to reinvigorate town centres affected by the recession, which is being led by the Department for Communities and Local Government. Artists can apply for grant funding for a range of projects that aim to transform vacant shops into art galleries, recording studios or family arts workshops, and ACE hopes that the initiative will enable artists to provide innovative ways to connect with local communities.

Funding for the scheme has been provided by an additional £500,000 from the National Lottery through ACE's Grants for the arts investment programme, which will see funds used specifically for the organisation's town centre scheme. Alan Davey, ACE chief executive, said: "The arts offer escape and comfort in tough times and they have the power to play a key role in our recovery from recession.

"Art in empty spaces is a wonderful way for artists to connect with even more people in unexpected places and to turn the depressing sight of another empty shop into an encounter with something different." Empty shops in Chester have already been used by Roam the Rows as the setting for the annual Chester Performs festival, with 46 events staged in unoccupied premises to provide a new, artistic experience for shoppers.