Arts organisation appeals for support (From The Advertiser Series)

Darlington for Culture asks businesses for help to promote festival

2:29pm Friday 11th January 2013 in News By Steven Hugill

AN arts organisation has appealed for businesses to support a cultural festival in Darlington.

Darlington for Culture (DfC) is asking retailers to open their doors and welcome artists during the Darlington Arts Festival, which will take place in May.

The month-long festival will be staged at a wide range of venues across the borough, with reading and writing workshops, a book launch, a film festival run by Darlington Film Club, and a series of music events.

Yvonne Preston, event organiser and DfC committee member, said she wanted businesses to help showcase artists’ work.

She said: “This is an excellent chance for shops and retailers to provide exhibition space throughout May to help the artists and themselves.

“It can even be a church or even a garden centre, as long as there is space.

“Artists in the borough need to showcase their work and this is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to work together.

“We would also like to hear from artists themselves who may have with ideas for something they could do.”

DfC was formed last year as a voice to campaign on behalf of all arts and culture groups in Darlington, and led the fight to save Darlington Arts Centre from closure as a result of council cuts.

Despite not being successful in that bid, the group remains committed to supporting the arts in Darlington.

DfC chairman John Dean, said: “These are difficult economic times, but we do regard the arts as important in Darlington.

“Our view has always been clear - if we see the council supporting the arts then we will support the council, but if there are times when the arts come under threat, we will hold the council to account.”

Further details of the arts festival will be announced in February.

Any group or artist wishing to run events during the festival should contact darlo4culture@gmail.com and give details of the event they would like to run.

For more information about DfC, go to darlingtonforculture.org