A wide variety of events and festivals in Dumfries and Galloway are set to benefit from £250,000 of events funding. At the Council’s Policy and Resources committee next week (17 February), Councillors will be asked to approve funding from the Council’s Major Events Strategic Fund.
Details will be provided to Councillors of the events and festivals that they Events Partnership are recommending receive allocations from the Major Events Fund to help with their delivery over the next twelve months.
Funding is being recommended to support twelve festivals and events in the region. These events will deliver successful events and also provide significant economic and tourism benefits for the local economy. The twelve events are:
• Pipe Bands Competition in Annan
• Eden Fesitval
• Electric Fields
• Galloway Hills Rally
• International Musicians Platform
• Knockengorroch World Ceilidh
• Lockerbie Jazz Festival
• Merrick Stages Rally
• Pack Up Your Troubles Festival
• Sheep Dog Trials
• Trophy D’Ecosse
• World Championship Ice Hockey
Also recommended is funding to host a stage of the 2016 Tour of Britain. The Tour of Britain provides a superb return on investment for Council funding and bring a world class sporting event to South West Scotland.
The Events Partnership also acknowledged that one of the most significant events in the region is the Wickerman. As such, the Events Partnership has recommended that a study should be paid for from the Major Events Fund. Wickerman organisers and the Council will be working together on a commission to review how to secure enhanced community economic benefits from the event in the future. The evidence will help inform decisions about the support and approach to support the Festival’s future growth plans.
Dumfries and Galloway Council adopted the Major Festivals and Events Strategy 2014/2017 in November 2013 and confirmed the £250,000 a year budget to deliver the strategy in February 2014. The Council and partner agencies established the Dumfries and Galloway Events Partnership to deliver the strategy. This Partnership has provided an expert, independent review of the applications to the Major Events Strategic Fund and their recommendations for grants.
Council Events Champion, Councillor Colin Smyth, said “Building the local economy is the number one priority of the Administration. As part of our budget, we have agreed a dedicated fund of £250,000 to support major events and festivals in our region. Over the past couple of years, Dumfries and Galloway has provided some top quality events. This funding will allow us to invest in even more money to grow and develop a wider variety of sporting and cultural events. The fact that we have been able to secure the Tour of Britain back in our region is a testament to Dumfries and Galloway being the perfect location for world class events. Targeted investment in growing festivals that are successful and attractive to tourists will bring more people into Dumfries and Galloway and generate substantial income for our region. I am delighted with the diverse range of events that we are supporting in 2015/16 through the Major Events Strategic Funding. By supporting these fantastic events and festivals, we will be able to grow our local economy and promote Dumfries and Galloway as a brilliant location with lots to offer.”
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