Belfast Community Festivals Fund to Reopen

• Community Festivals fund

Belfast community festival organisers are being invited to a series of information sessions to hear about new funding arrangements in the city by Belfast City Council. The new fund opens on 2 September and closes on 19 September 2008.

Earlier this year, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) passed responsibility for community festivals funding to local councils.

In addition to £77,750 allocated to Belfast by DCAL, Belfast City Council has agreed to commit £120,000 to the community festivals fund in the current financial year.

Grants for a minimum of £2,500 and a maximum of £10,000 will be available. Applications open on Tuesday 2 September, with a deadline of 19 September, and a view to grant awards being made on 1 October.

All festivals applying for support must demonstrate their commitment to promoting social cohesion, equality of opportunity, good relations and social inclusion.

Application forms and guidance notes for the Community Festivals Fund will be available from Tuesday 2 September. These can then be downloaded from the website at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/funding, or hard copies obtained from the council`s Culture and Arts Unit on 9027 0461.

A series of six information sessions have been arranged, as follows:

• Thursday 4 September, 11am - 1pm; Play Resource Warehouse, Duncairn Gardens,
• Thursday 4 September, 2.30pm - 4.30pm; An Culturlann, Falls Road,
• Friday 5 September, 11am - 1pm; Morton Community Centre, Lorne Street,
• Friday 5 September 2.30pm - 4.30pm; The Black Box, Hill Street,
• Monday 8 September, 11am - 1pm; Spectrum Centre, Shankill Road,
• Monday 8 September, 2.30pm - 4.30pm. East Belfast Partnership, Avalon House, Newtownards Road,

For anyone unable to attend any of the sessions, more information can be obtained by contacting the council`s Culture and Arts Unit on 9027 0461.

www.belfastcity.gov.uk