£200,000 of Events funding announced by Council
Dumfries and Galloway Council is to make available more than £200,000 of funding for major festivals and events in the region in 2015.
The funding forms part of the regional Major Festivals and Events Strategy, 2014-2017, which aims to promote Dumfries and Galloway to international audiences via superb signature events such as Wigtown Book Festival, the Wickerman, Spring Fling, the Big Burns Supper and many more.
Events organisations have until 14 November to submit their application to the Major Events Strategic Fund managed by the Council.
Councillor Colin Smyth, the Council’s Events Champion said,
“I am really pleased to confirm that the Council has ring-fenced £200,000 of funding for the Strategic Fund for 2015. We have a unique Events Strategy in Dumfries and Galloway, which is worth its weight in gold for supporting the development of major events in our part of the World. In the Strategy’s first year we have seen Spring Fling record a massive 42% increase in its economic impacts, the Wigtown Book Festival launch a superb Festival Programme and developed new partnerships with the Merrick Stages and Galloway Hills Rallies.
We have funded the Absolute Classics Festival and worked with VisitScotland to attract new visitors to the region via a marketing campaign with the Wickerman. We also expect great things in the next three years from Big Burns Supper, our Beacon Event for growth in this period, and next March’s Women’s World Championship Ice Hockey championship in Dumfries.”
The Council works in partnership with VisitScotland, EventScotland, the Chambers of Commerce, the Holywood Trust and Third Sector First to deliver the Major Festivals and Events Strategy, 2014-2017, which is the only Strategy of its kind in Scotland.
Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: “Scotland is the perfect stage for events and our national industry continues to go from strength to strength. This significant investment from Dumfries and Galloway Council will ensure the region continues to see the economic and tourism benefits from its superb portfolio of events. As a directorate of VisitScotland, we are proud to work in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway and we look forward to 2015 and continued success for the area.”
The Council has also been buoyed by the success of the World Curling Federation’s World Curling Championships held in Dumfries in April 2014, when more than thirty nations participated and sent competing teams, and will announce the results of the economic impacts that arose from the event shortly.
Events organisations that wish to apply to the Major Events Strategic Fund should email [email protected] for an application form or call 01387 273894.
