BLACKBURN will play host to a European first when a 'groundbreaking' art exhibition from Japan leaves Asia for the first time.

'Parallel realities: Asian Art Now; Work from the 3rd Triennale' is going on display at various venues across the town as part of C21, Blackburn with Darwen Council's year-long cultural and community arts event.

The exhibition is coming from the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan, and will go on display in Blackburn between January 21 and April 9.

It is hoped the project will 'transform national and international perceptions of Blackburn with Darwen', establishing it as the northern apex of the North West's cultural triangle, with Liverpool and Manchester at its base.

The idea to bring the exhibition to Blackburn was formed after Paul Flintoff, head of Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, visited the southern Japanese city of Fukuoka.

Coun Dave Smith, executive member for culture, leisure and sport said: "During his visit, Paul learned the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum had never been approached with a request to take the exhibition out of Japan, so when it was confirmed our bid for funding had been successful, a dream was born."

The C21 project has been funded by a £500,000 grant from the Millennium Commission. That has been matched by existing council money.

The art shipment will arrive in Blackburn towards the end of December, when it will be stored in Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery.

The exhibition will be on display across the town between January 21 and April 9.