Fancy a festival? Council’s new Community Fund could lend a hand

Its hats off to Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council as the Community Festival Fund is launched. Joining Alderman Paul Porter, Chair of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Councils Leisure Services Committee are young people from Community Circus Lisburn.

That’s because Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council has launched a new £57,000 Community Festival Fund that is designed to help local groups deliver community focused festivals and events in the area.

The Community Festivals Fund is jointly financed by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) to recognise the role that festivals can play in increasing social cohesion, economic regeneration and strengthening community relations.

Speaking at the launch, Chairman of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Council’s Leisure Services Committee, Alderman Paul Porter said: “Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s Community Festival Fund is of great benefit to local community organisations and residents.

“It supports events that promote the active participation of residents in community life contributing towards the community and economic resilience of the towns, villages and city of Lisburn & Castlereagh.

“The grants scheme aims to assist constituted groups working within the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area to organise their own locally-based arts and cultural festivals that sustain and develop our rich culture and strong communities. I strongly encourage community groups to apply.”

Events must provide city-wide benefit and meet the council’s wider priorities around equality, community cohesion and place-shaping.

The Council is hosting two public information workshops to provide applicant organisations with information relating to the completion of applications to the Community Festivals Fund.

These will both take place on Tuesday 12 May, 7pm at ISLAND Arts Centre and Thursday 14 May, 7pm at Bradford Court

To register for either of these workshops please contact Lynda McCord on T: 028 92 509503 or E:[email protected].

Registration for the public information workshop is essential.

Closing Date for applications is Thursday 28 May, 5pm. Completed applications must be received in hard copy at ISLAND Arts Centre by this deadline.

Applicants can apply online at www.lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk/community.