Cash grants for Essex artists who want to put themselves in the picture

DO YOU have an arts project that needs funding?

Essex County Council is awarding small arts grants of up to �2500 to art projects which will enhance and enrich the lives of Essex residents.

The twice-yearly awards, which have been running since 2000, support both voluntary and professional arts organisations, with Saint FM radio station and the festival of Muslim and Jewish Music (MuJu) just two of the many projects to receive ECC funding.

Awards range from �250 up to �2500 and the closing date for applications is October 31 2009. Another round of applications is scheduled for March 2010.

Arts La'Olam and organisers of MuJu, Madeline and Daisy Lees, said: "ECC's small grants scheme enabled us to deliver a month-long festival of Muslim and Jewish Music of eight events at four venues in Colchester during July 2009.

"Being locally supported encouraged other funders to believe in the project and we delivered a vibrant and varied series of events for the people of Colchester.

We give many thanks to ECC for supporting our idea and welcoming diverse cultural events in Essex."

Successful projects

Since its inception, Essex County Council has invested �354,513 into 187 successful projects, which have benefitted over 380,000 people. On average, each pound invested returned an additional �8 of external funding to Essex.

Cabinet Member for Heritage, Culture and the Arts, Cllr Jeremy Lucas, said: "Essex is a county of great culture and we are committed to enriching the lives of our residents through art.

"It is essential that artists and arts organisations have the financial means to keep culture alive in our county and as a council we are committed to seeing the arts continue to thrive in Essex."

To apply for small arts grant funding, call Andrew Ward on 01245 244615 or email Andrew.ward@essex.gov.uk.

For information on other grants and funding packages available from the County Council log on to www.essex.gov.uk