AN ENHANCED events and festivals strategy is being co-ordinated for Dumfries and Galloway which council organisers estimate will bring an economic boost of £30 million to the south-west region.
The final touches are currently being put to a five-year plan to present the region as an “internationally-renowned rural events destination”.
The blueprint is being spearheaded by 21-year-old Labour councillor Adam Wilson, and is anchored on seven signature events: Wigtown Book Festival, cycling Tour of Britain, Big Burns Supper, Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival, Spring Fling, Scottish Rally and the under-21 ice hockey World Championship, which took place in Dumfries before Christmas.
However, other event organisers have had the chance to take part, having had the chance to submit bids before Christmas. Those bids will be assessed by a panel, which will file a report council’s communities committee in the coming weeks. Successful bids will be eligible for a share of a central funding pot.
Cllr Wilson, who is studying business management at the University of Edinburgh, said: “For every £1 that the council puts into the Major Festivals and Events Strategy, £23 is generated for the local economy, which is one of the best investments that the council can actually make.
“It’s absolutely fantastic, which is why it stands head and shoulders above everything else that the council does, because we are getting that economic return. People can get behind it and communities can get behind it… because they can see the difference it makes to our communities and the economy.”
The new strategy is effectively the second one of its kind for the area. While the first ostensibly created a festival and events sector for the region, Cllr Wilson noted that version two will set out to help it expand and attract new entrants.
“The new strategy is very much about helping the whole industry to grow, and to continue to innovate, so that it does remain a vital part [of the local economy,” he explained. “As long as we do that then we will continue to see fantastic economic benefits from it. It [then] makes it very easy to say in discussions we have in the council that we can’t afford to cut [its budget] because essentially it could result in many people losing their jobs in Dumfries and Galloway, and that is the opposite of what we want to do.”
Cllr Wilson conceded that all council expenditure was currently under the microscope because of the continuing pressure on public resources. But, asked whether the funding for events and festivals was under threat, he replied: “No. Of course, the Major Events and Festivals Strategy can’t escape the discussions [on council budgets], as we to with every single service the council provides. However, there is that other side of the argument. If anyone was to say [we should] reduce that funding, we have to think about what the consequences would be for local communities here in Dumfries and Galloway.
“One of our council priorities is to invest in our local economy and infrastructure. If we were to take away the funding it would really go against that priority we have as a local authority.”
The strategy unites the broad range of events which already take place across Dumfries & Galloway, which last year included the Muckle Town Adventure in Langholm, the World Gold Panning Championship in Moffat and the Stranraer Oyster Festival. The events range from locally-organised occasions to those brought to the towns by national and international organisations.
Cllr Wilson said firms local to where the events take place benefit from events, and highlighted the Wigtown Book festival as a big money spinner for local enterprises such as the market, book stores and cafes. “That is a major part of it,” he said. “But many of the local businesses get involved, and will either sponsor part of the event themselves, or will be engaged directly to do some sort of catering or such like.”
Cllr Wilson added: “What is good about it is that the whole community, not just the businesses, will get behind the events.”
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