Kidderminster Arts Festival applies for £25k grant

Wyre Forest District Council is once again organising Kidderminster Arts Festival and members hope hope to hear in the next few months whether they have been successful in their bid to the Arts Council.

Meanwhile plans are being drawn up for the festival which will take place in August.

The theme of this year's event will be Strength and Resilience, with a focus on the centenary of the end of the First World War and a celebration of 100 years of women’s right to vote.

It will also be part of Circus250, a country-wide celebration of 250 years of circus.

Wyre Forest District Council is organising the event and if funding is secured there are plans to host a variety of treats for all the family including street theatre, live events, community workshops, film screenings and exhibitions.

Councillor Juliet Smith, the council's cabinet member for culture, leisure and community protection, said: “We hope to celebrate Kidderminster’s relationship with these various landmark anniversaries during this very special year.

“Our theme will be Strength and Resilience and just one aspect of this is the strength of partnerships the festival has with many local groups.

"There are lots of ideas brewing for events and exhibitions not only in the town centre, but at venues like the Museum of Carpet in Green Street, and at the Severn Valley Railway.

“There are also lots of ideas already in the pipeline for the very popular Kidderminster Fringe Festival.”