Arts cash up for grabs

Arts and cultural groups and individuals are being invited to apply for a share of a £22,500 pot of cash which has been set aside to fund community projects.

Applications are being sought from individuals, artists, arts organisations, theatres, clubs and communities in Staffordshire for a share of this year's arts grants fund, run by the county council's arts and museum service.

Last year, the scheme, which is made up of cash from the community arts fund and the development fund, supported around 40 arts events and activities.

The community arts fund is open to any arts group or community group planning an arts project or event in Staffordshire.

The activity must have an arts basis and can feature one or more artforms and the maximum each project can apply for is £600.

Events staged included music concerts, carnival days, arts and crafts workshops to theatrical performances, contemporary dance and visual arts.

The development fund is open to arts or community organisations in Staffordshire with a proven track record in managing and developing arts projects and initiatives and the max-imum amount a group can apply for is £2,000.

One development-funded project that addresses social and arts development issues and demonstrates partnership working combining arts and health organisations was 'Signposts: Show me the way.'

It focused on the planned opening of a multi-agency centre on Highfields Estate in Stafford.

Phase 1 of the project, which received a development grant, involved a community workshop at an open day in October.

People of all ages from within the community took part in a series of workshops including silk painting on the theme of 'What we want from the new centre' shared views and produced mosaics.

Anyone wanting an application pack should contact Staffordshire Arts and Museum Service, c/o Shugborough, Milford, Stafford ST17 0XB or telephone 01889 881388.

Applications to either fund will be accepted until February 8, 2008.

For a project to be eligible it would need to benefit the community and be scheduled to take place before the end of next March.