£100 million Festival Fund launched

Greenwich, 5 May 1998

The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) announced that it is open for business and ready to receive proposals for awards of over £5000 for local and regional Millennium celebrations in 2000.

The Festival Fund has been created by the 11 UK Lottery distributors working together and applications will now be invited for projects to mark the Millennium year in local communities up and down the country. All kinds of activities will be supported by the fund, such as recreational, heritage, educational, sports and arts initiatives, with the aim of both marking the Millennium and creating a lasting legacy for the people of every town, city and village in the UK.

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Chris Smith said:

"I was pleased to announce the £100 million festival Fund earlier this year. I'm now even more pleased that applications can start to flow in. Not only will the Festival actively involve people all over the UK, but it will also give local communities the chance to achieve a lasting legacy too.

"The Millennium is about so much more than just an exciting Dome at Greenwich. It is about realising everyone's aspirations to mark a very significant moment in time throughout the country. The Festival will fund the best ideas for these celebrations".

The initial proposals will be administered by the NMEC's 12 Millennium offices.

Thousands of applications are expected from all over the UK from public and non-profit-making organisations interested in developing their own Millennium Projects with the help of the Millennium Fund. Any groups or organisations interested in bidding for money can register their interest by calling the Millennium Festival Fund Information Line on:

0870 600 2000

They will be sent a proposal form and guidance notes and details of how to apply for a grant. Those applying will have until August 31st to submit their applications and final decisions on awards will be made by the end of December 1998. Further awards for sums less than £5000 will be made via a similar process in 1999.

The typical size of awards in the first round will be around £30,000 and will have innovative and outstanding qualities which have an immediate impact on the locality and beyond. They will need to be accessible and should encourage maximum participation by the broadest possible cross-section of people and a create a lasting legacy.

Director of the UK Millennium Programme, Joe Simpson said:

"Groups or organisations which satisfy simple eligibility criteria can apply for money and we are actively encouraging people to come forward with their ideas as soon as possible to make sure that the best proposals are supported".

Notes:

The Millennium festival Fund is a £100m programme to enable people throughout the UK to celebrate the Millennium. The funding has been made possible through joint commitment of the NMEC, The Millennium Commission, The Arts Council Of England, Wales and Scotland, Lottery Fund, The Sports Councils of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, Lottery Sports Fund, The National Lottery Charities Board and The Heritage Lottery Fund.

Some ideas being submitted for grant awards have already been received by the Millennium offices. These include:

• Town twinning and exchange programmes in 2000.
• Events which celebrate local history and culture
• Projects which encourage volunteering and community activity
• Comedy and Theatre Festivals
• Sports Competitions
• Arts and Music Festivals
• Youth Sports Events
• Oral History Projects
• Community Initiatives

Further details of applications, including geographical breakdowns received will be given later in 1998.

For further information on applying for a grant, please ring the Festival Hotline on
0870 600 2000.