Council allocates latest round of Tourism Event Grants

From a folk festival to a celebration of Shakespeare’s first folio, from Warwickshire Pride to a pottery throw down, a wide range of events are to receive a funding boost from Warwickshire County Council.

The county council has announced the latest round of winning bids from a fund established to support tourism and cultural events. The aim of the scheme is to generate growth and jobs by fully exploiting the county’s vibrant visitor economy.

The Tourism Event Grant scheme was launched in 2015 by Warwickshire County Council, inviting bids from organisations planning to hold events or festivals. In the past year the county council has helped support Rugby’s Rugby World Cup celebrations in addition to many other tourism and cultural events across the county.

Thanks to the high level of interest in the scheme last year, the council has now released a second round of funding.

The latest grants have been awarded to:

Warwickshire Pride - for a festival to celebrate the county’s diverse community, focusing on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) culture, on 20 Aug 2016. The £2,185 grant will be used on facilities and stage equipment.

Friends of the Square, Atherstone – funding of nearly £5,000 will support a series of events from March to July 2016 to support a café culture in Atherstone’s Market Square. Events planned include an Irish music event, a beer festival, barn dance and Motown event.

George Eliot Fellowship – more than £8,000 will be invested in the “Writers in Warwickshire Festival” in June 2016. The grant will be used to enhance promotions and fund joint activity with Northern Warwickshire Tourism Association.

Greenman Rising Folk – subject to confirmation of venues, £10,000 will be made available to launch the “Ragged Bear Festival,” a new annual music festival in Nuneaton celebrating the county’s bands, artists and local beers.

St Mary’s Church, Warwick – more than £10,000 has been awarded to help stage an exhibition at St Mary’s Church from April to July 2016, showcasing Shakespeare’s First Folio and The King James’ Bible, in addition to an Elizabethan weekend in May 2016 to coincide with the Shakespeare 400 celebrations.

Art in the Park, Leamington Spa – an arts festival in Jephson Gardens to be held in August 2016, bringing together over 100 local artists, craftsmen, musicians and performers from across Warwickshire. A grant of £10,000 will support the event which will include a new “Pottery Throw Down” and camouflage-themed events (Leamington was a base for camouflage work during the Second World War).

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust – more than £9,000 has been awarded to the “Shakespeare’s Tavern” project which will celebrate a heritage of beer and brewing in Warwickshire. A “pop-up tavern” in the Birthplace Garden will host tasting events and brewing demonstrations. The project also involves production of a map of Warwickshire coaching inns, plus events in south Warwickshire pubs.

Cllr Jeff Clarke, Portfolio Holder for Environment at Warwickshire County Council, said: “At the heart of this initiative is that the investment reaps longer-term benefit for the local economy. We have been impressed by the rich range of events that have come forward, which have demonstrated how the funding can be used to sustain further growth and are delighted to make further funding available which will, in turn, provide jobs and increase visitors.”

Cllr Philip Johnson, Chairman of the Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee, added: “The grants underline Warwickshire’s commitment to tourism and culture and I am pleased that local communities across the county will benefit from this scheme.”

Any organisation or group interested in finding out about tourism and culture support should visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/tourism.