COUNCILLORS are being asked to stump up £3,000 so a fledgling arts festival in East Lancs can develop.

Clitheroe Contemporary Festival made its debut last summer at various venues, showcasing the town's arts community.

Proposals for 2024, from June 14 to 16 would see more outlying Ribble Valley villages incorporated into the proceedings and festival organisers have already been given a £1,000 culture grant by the borough council.

For this year, as well as weekend of arts activities, with several venues showcasing works alongside the festival hub at Holmes Mill.

A Plein Air competition is also planned, encouraging participants to create fresh pieces over the weekend.

Promoters have a budget of £27,889 and are concerned they may be up to £6,000 short of their target, amid hopes of covering their cost through Lancashire County Council's culture and sport fund.

In a report to the borough's community services committee, Mark Beveridge, the council's cultural services head, has proposed offering a £3,000 grant.

He adds: "Exhibitions across Ribble Valley in pop up galleries will serve to support the careers of emerging artists while raising the Ribble Valley’s profile and lending an economic boost to its community, leisure and hospitality trade.

"Professional artists will work with our communities, demystifying the creative arts as an elitist endeavour and encouraging them to pursue their creative ambitions. The aim being that a collective effort can help fire the imaginations of everyone, young and old, and especially those who might otherwise not experience art."

The council's arts development officer also provided 50 hours worth of support to the festival last year, which would be repeated for 2024.

The community services committee will meet next Tuesday to discuss the funding application.