More beer, more balti as Black Country Festival gets £200k boost

The three-year scheme will see a Lye-based balti festival, more Black Country beer festivals and themed night and day events.

The plan, which will see three people employed to focus on the event's expansion, will begin this year. It was approved at yesterday's Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership meeting.

The festival, which started in 2014, celebrates the region's best traditions and attractions during a variety of events held on and around Black Country Day on July 14,

All this has been achieved largely through volunteers, but by setting a three-year budget of £200,000, three paid staff could be employed to help expand the festival.

Co-organiser of the festival, Steve Edwards, said: "Over the last three years the festival has been expanding, but to have help through the LEP to make it even bigger will be absolutely fantastic.

"It started in Dudley, but every year we've added events in neighbouring boroughs, and we would like to add even more."

Businesses will be encouraged to sponsor the event in order to raise money, while the Black Country Consortium will also work with Dudley Arts Council to help identify sources of funding.

The report presented by Sarah Middleton, chief executive of the Black Country Consortium Ltd, states: "Over the next three years Black Country Festival Committee believe that they can extend the success of the Black Country Festival in terms of number of events, including more events throughout the year, and the geographical reach by using the template developed successfully in Dudley throughout the other Black Country councils."

The report continues: "Using the success of the Black Country Festival in Dudley as a template and the growth aspired to for 2017, they will work throughout 2017 to develop existing relationships and forge new ones with community groups, businesses and local councils in Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton with a view to developing the Black Country Festival in July in these areas, and with a view to extending this further in 2018."

The plan is for the festival to remain primarily focused on Dudley in 2017, with Black Country branded town centre entertainment, a Lye-based Balti Festival, high profile variety nights, business showcases, and extra Black Country beer festivals.

The festival committee and staff will use this year's festival to forge new relationships with community groups, businesses and councils in Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton with a view to extending the event in 2018. By 2019, it is hoped there will be events across the region.