Strabane Community Festivals Fund

Overview

The primary purpose of the Community Festivals Fund is to improve the capacity of community festivals and make them less reliant on public funding by providing support and training in addition to funding towards the cost of events. The Fund enables community organisations to celebrate their cultural identity and to strengthen community relations.

Definition of a festival: A community festival is a series of events with a common theme and delivered within a defined time period. It is developed from within a community and should celebrate and positively promote what the community represents. Community festivals are about participation, involvement, and the creation of a sense of identity and are important in contributing to the social well being of a community.

They must be initiated and led by a community organisation or a community-led partnership. It is not enough to run a festival for a community – the community must play a strong part in the development and delivery of the festival and have ownership of it.

General Principles which apply to the Community Festivals Fund

• This is a competitive scheme and applications will be determined on the basis of merit
• Applications to this scheme will be open to all festivals that can meet the core criteria of the scheme irrespective of whether they are established or emerging events.
• Festivals will continue to be able to apply to other sources of public support.
• All festivals must demonstrate their commitment to promoting social cohesion, social inclusion, equality of opportunity and good relations.
• Festivals should contribute to the promotion of a positive image of Northern Ireland and organisers must take steps to avert anti-social behaviour.
• Organisations in receipt of public funding must comply with all statutory obligations regarding the delivery of and access to their events.
• Festival organisations will make every effort to increase capacity within the community through e.g. skills training and volunteering.
• Festival organisations will be expected to make efforts to maximise income through ticket sales and sponsorship. They should develop a plan to improve their sustainability and reduce reliance on public funding.
• It is a prime responsibility of Government to ensure the proper and efficient use of and the accountability of public monies. To this end, festivals will be required to provide relevant supporting information when applying for funding.
• Festival organisations will be required to demonstrate the effectiveness and impact of their festival and that public funding is put to good use and shows a positive and measurable impact on the local community or economy.

Eligible groups can apply for a range of grants from £500 - £5,000.

The total grant amount can only make up 50% of the total festival cost.

Match funding is therefore required, (which can be offered as in-kind), with supporting evidence.

Applicants can only hold one award in any financial year.