FORGET the Bermuda Triangle – it’s time for the Yorkshire version.

Ambitious plans have been unveiled to make Yorkshire the sculpture capital of Europe.

And a key part will be played by the Yorkshire Sculpture Park at Bretton.

The park will spearhead the new project along with the Henry Moore Institute, The Hepworth Wakefield and Leeds Art Gallery.

With support from the Arts Council England and Welcome to Yorkshire tourism agency, the four galleries will work together to create a unique offering for visitors.

The Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle will build on the county’s unique sculpture heritage as the birthplace of two of the most important 20th Century sculptors, Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore.

It will encourage visitors to see sculpture at four outstanding venues which all offer free entry to world-class exhibitions and are visited by more than a million art lovers every year.

The project will also provide a boost to the tourism economy by signposting visitors to the great local hotels and impressive nearby restaurants dotted around the attractions.

Cluny Macpherson, regional director, Arts Council England said: “The Arts Council has invested significantly in several of the organisations involved in the Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle and I’m delighted that we can support a project which will attract further investment and visitors to Yorkshire.

“It is a great example of how partnership working can help more people to become familiar with Yorkshire's pre-eminence in modern sculpture.”

Following the opening of The Hepworth Wakefield in 2011 the county now has four major sculpture venues all within a few miles of each other.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park, the first of its kind in the UK and the biggest in Europe, opened in 1977 and is now one of the UK’s premier art attractions.

The park has continued to be popular since its creation – 2011 proved to be the best year in the sculpture park’s history with 350,000 visitors passing through its doors.

The Leeds Art Gallery has been a much loved cultural highlight in the heart of the city for over a century, with visitor figures now pushing half a million a year.

And linked to Leeds Art Gallery by a glass bridge, the Henry Moore Institute is not only an impressive art gallery but maintains a reputation as a world-leading centre for the study of sculpture.

It is part of The Henry Moore Foundation, which was set up by the artist in 1977 and is now one of the UK’s leading arts charities.

The newly opened The Hepworth Wakefield is named after one of the city’s most famous former residents, artist Barbara Hepworth.

Opened in early 2011 as the largest new gallery outside London, the initial target of 150,000 visitors in the first year of operation was smashed when this many people visited in the first few weeks.

By the end of the year over half a million people had passed through its doors.

Gary Verity chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire believes the secret will be to not only showcase the cultural attractions but to also signpost visitors to the terrific selection of hotels, bars and restaurants surrounding them.

He said: “We will be highlighting how to get to Yorkshire, how to travel from gallery to gallery as well as signposting visitors towards the great places to stay and impressive places to eat.

“We will make it easy for those tempted to come to Yorkshire and see some of the best sculpture in the world.”