01/03/04 - Boost for Music Festival

Carlisle Music and Drama Festival is getting a £1,000 boost from Carlisle Local Commitee of Cumbria County Council. The committee agreed today to make a £1,000 grant towards the total £6,500 costs of the festival, which is being held at St Cuthbert's Church between March 8 and March 13. The money will help pay for the hire of facilities, adjudicators' fees, printing, publicity and refreshments.

County councillor John Collier, chair of the Carlisle Local Committee, said:

"This grant will enable people from Cumbria and other parts of northern England and southern Scotland to enjoy the opportunities the festival provides. It will also encourage those taking part to develop skills in a range of arts.

"The committee is also providing grant aid this month for a group of older people and for a young people's event. We are pleased to consider applications for other projects in Carlisle."

The committee also agreed to grant £750 towards to Carlisle Rugby Club to enable its under-11 team undertake a tour of Finchley and Buckingham later this year.

And Members granted £200 towards the £919 annual cost of hiring a room at the Old Town Hall for the weekly meetings of the Cultivating Health Group. They enable pensioners to meet socially and provide an interest for those living on their own.

Another £276 is going towards the costs of providing facilities for 150 children from Carlisle area schools attending an event at Carlisle Cathedral on March 25. The purpose of the event, which includes workshops and banner making, is to give young people firsthand experience of the work of the cathedral, particularly its music.