Dumfries and Galloway Council has made fourteen grant awards to cultural and heritage projects across the region totalling more than £62,000.
The funding is from the new Regional Cultural Fund 2024/25, and the grants programme has been made possible through the council securing £96,000 of funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund earlier this year. The council is managing the fund on behalf of the steering group for the Cultural Partnership in Dumfries and Galloway.
The funding will enhance cultural and heritage development across the region for the benefit of local people and visitors. The renowned music organisation Absolute Classics are to plan and introduce a new Jazz Festival in the spring of 2025, the Whithorn Trust will produce an in-depth new visitor guide that includes information on cycling and walking routes in the Machars, and the Henry Duncan Savings Museum in Ruthwell is being funded to modernise their displays and interpretation boards.
Among other projects being supported is a series of events at Rosefield Mills in Dumfries to create public awareness of the mill’s history and restoration. In Annan, there is also detailed community engagement work to take forward the Annan History Town initiative.
Gail Macgregor, the Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council said: “There was a superb response to the Regional Cultural Fund, with thirty five eligible applications received, and the council and its partners are delighted to be able to announce the funding for 14 excellent projects across Dumfries and Galloway. It is clear that dozens of organisations which are active in our region hold our culture and heritage dear and work tirelessly to support and promote it.”
Tabi Mudalier, Director of DG Unlimited said: “DG Unlimited was delighted by the high number of excellent responses and high quality projects from all applicants. The successful projects will further enhance the cultural sector in our region, and is proving to be a positive way to share the prosperity of the funding received from the UK Government. We look forward to seeing the results of the projects in the coming months. Congratulations to all the awardees. Our thanks to Dumfries and Galloway Council for the opportunity to assist with the delivery of this funding round.”
Judith Hewitt, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Museums and Heritage Network said, “I’m so pleased that the Regional Cultural Fund has been able to support heritage projects from across our region. There hasn’t been a regional fund that heritage organisations can apply to for some time and there is clear demand. I look forward to see how these exciting and diverse projects develop to help sustain the work of our sector in Dumfries and Galloway.”
The Regional Cultural Fund is fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Dumfries and Galloway Council will manage all aspects of the Fund with assistance from DGU – DG Unlimited
The full list of grants awarded is;
Kirkconnel Parish Heritage Society Covenanter Sites Restoration £2880
The Whithorn Trust A Visitor’s Guide to the Archaeology of Whithorn and the Machars £5000
Electric Theatre Workshop Ltd Northern Lights £5000
Annan the History Town Group Forging Our History: Annan’s Community Art Project £3980
Quarrymen Arts Centre (Creetown Buildings Preservation Trust Ltd) Women’s Art, Women’s Lives £5000
Dumfries Historic Buildings Trust Rosefield Mills Community Outreach and Engagement Programme 24/25 £4625
Kirkcudbright Book Week Society A Good Read £1500
Guild of Players Revitalising our Heritage Displays £5000
Henry Duncan Savings Museum Duncan’s Digital Vault: Unlocking the history of Henry Duncan £5000
Absolute Classics Absolute Classics: Cultural Development £5000
South West Media Factory CIC DGTV £5000
Cample Line Increasing Access and Engagement Provision with deaf and hard of hearing visitors £5000
The Stove Network The Community Print Room £5000
OutPost Arts DG Creative Wellbeing Symposium £5000
“The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus”
