Belfast City Council is inviting community and festival organisations to deliver new arts or cultural programmes by applying to its new Community Festivals Fund.

Cllr Bernie Kelly, chair of the council’s arts sub-committee, said: “We’re seeking creative proposals to help people think more positively about their environment, encourage good relations and discourage anti-social behaviour. We know that making Belfast a better place in which to live, work and visit is dependent on us tackling those very issues. Cultural festivals provide a powerful means of achieving those aims.

“Belfast’s festivals are already generating far-reaching and long-lasting cultural and economic benefits for the city. They are attracting vast numbers of local, national and international visitors to Belfast, which in turn generates income and creates jobs.

“We want to see local communities benefiting from that investment, and so we are urging festival organisers and community-based groups to get in contact with the council to secure valuable grant assistance for their area.”

It is envisaged that most requests will be for between £3,000 and £10,000, with the average award being around £5,000. Details: www.belfastcity.gov.uk