New cultural fund for Northumberland planned

Northumberland County Council is planning to launch a new fund to help support new arts and cultural events taking place over the summer.
If approved the Northumberland Cultural Fund would support new event organisers in the delivery of their event.

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 summer of events for 2019.

A legacy of the Great Northumberland programme of events last year any event receiving funding would then become part of Great Northumberland 2019.

Events organisers would be able to bid for a share of the £100,000 fund and it is anticipated that it will be used for small projects, aimed at supporting the programme of County wide activities and would not be intended to fund large scale events.

Applications can be made for events in any creative genre, by a constituted group, charity or Not for Profit organisation but the fund can not be used to fund 100% of the event.

The Northumberland Cultural Fund will continue to enhance the legacy of the Great Northumberland Programme and also facilitate and encourage free and sustainable Arts and Cultural engagement throughout Northumberland for residents and visitors.

The new fund was discussed at a recent  Corporate Services and Economic Growth overview scrutiny committee and will now go before Cabinet next week and full council in May, before a final decision is made.

Nigel Walsh, Head of Cultural Services at the council said: “We value the enormous contribution that arts and community groups make to the vibrancy of our summer offer to local people and visitors across Northumberland. We hope this exciting and new fund will help local people deliver their events and be part of a Countywide programme as part of Great Northumberland 2019.”