Event organisers across Northumberland have received a cash boost thanks to a new fund launched by the County Council.
The Northumberland Cultural Fund is aimed at organisers of new events or existing events which have a new element to them.
Following an application process the successful bidders for the fund have now been announced.
In total 17 events taking place across Northumberland this year have received grants from between £400 and £5,000.
The fund follows last year’s Great Northumberland summer programme, which was a huge success across the county. The fund will allow organisations and individuals to develop their new event to create a packed programme of events for 2019.
The successful recipients include Mortal Fools, a theatre, drama and creative learning charity based in Northumberland, for its “Say it, Play it” theatre improvisation project. The project will include workshops aimed at young people aged between 8-17 and two live performances to be held at The Fuse Media Centre in Prudhoe.
The workshops will support young people to learn theatre improv, developing creative skills, teamwork, and confidence. The performances will feature games and exercises that will be influenced by suggestions from the audience.
Helen Ferguson, Creative Producer of Mortal Fools, said: “Mortal Fools is delighted to receive support from the Northumberland Culture Fund. Young people are at the heart of everything we do and this funding will help us build the skills and confidence of our youth theatre members to stage our first live improvisation performance in Prudhoe.
“We are proud to be part of the Great Northumberland events programme and we look forward to welcoming audiences from Prudhoe and the Tyne Valley to join us for a fun, enjoyable and unique event.”
Hexham Abbey Festival of the Arts has also received funding for its schools music project, which is new to the festival for this year. The project will work with primary schools in Allendale, Henshaw, Newbrough and Greenhead to produce a piece of music to be performed at a concert in Hexham Abbey for the opening of the festival.
Denis McCaldin, joint Artistic Director for the festival said: “This is a really exciting addition to the Hexham Abbey Festival programme so it’s fantastic that we have been able to secure funding from the Northumberland Cultural Fund.”
Cllr Cath Homer, cabinet member for Culture, Art, Leisure and Tourism at the council said: “The Northumberland Cultural Fund has been introduced to help organisers develop their event and to support a County-wide programme of events for 2019.
“The successful events demonstrate the breadth of culture and art in Northumberland with everything from small community events such as the Jazz Evening at St Cuthbert’s Church in Hebron this Friday to the Morpeth Book Festival in September.”
For more details of these and more events happening in Northumberland go to www.greatnorthumberland.co.uk
