Weymouth BID has provided funding and marketing support for many events in 2017 including the ArtWey Open for Art Festival, Weymouth Lions events and the BIG Dorset Outdoor Weekend.
Since January 2017 the BID Board have considered and approved four funding applications including one from ArtWey who are running an “Open for Art” fortnight festival from 20th May – 4th June at various locations around the area promoting local artists and venues. Carol Cruickshank Artwey Chairman said “Artwey have been delighted to receive support from the Weymouth BID team in terms of funding, marketing expertise and networking which has helped our event OPEN FOR ART to expand threefold whilst still making it accessible and affordable to artists, business advertisers and sponsors. We hope this is the beginning of a great working relationship with Weymouth BID that will result in growing OPEN FOR ART into an established, respected and successful biannual event raising the cultural profile in our area and encouraging visitors to enjoy all that our towns have to offer. We would like to thank Weymouth BID for providing both funding and marketing support to enable the Open for Art event to reach a wider audience.”
The Weymouth and Portland Lions applied for financial support for two events, a new event on Easter Sunday, the Weymouth Wade and the Lions Music Festival in June 2017. In total, Weymouth and Portland Lions have received just under £10,000 worth of financial support since 2013, including support for the annual Motocross event, Two Music Festivals, and a Christmas event in 2015.
Finally, The BIG Outdoor Adventure Weekend will run over the 20th– 21stMay with a wide range of activity events that offer the chance for people to try out the many outdoor activities in the area that include, cycling, rock climbing, sailing and numerous water based activities.
Roy Griffiths, Activity Sector Representative, Weymouth Area Partnership said “It has been my belief for a long time now that activity breaks are a key element to the tourism challenges of filling accommodation outside the main holiday period and attracting higher spending visitors. Working with support from the Weymouth BID, who also recognised this opportunity, we have managed to achieve significant progress in promoting our area for activity holidays through attendance at the ‘Telegraph Outdoor Adventure Show, Excel, London on the ‘We Are Weymouth Stand’, production of 10,000 A3 Local Activity Leaflets and development of the brand new event ‘The BIG Dorset Outdoor Weekend 20th & 21st May.”
Weymouth BID has provided funding to a number of organisations since it was formed in 2013 including the 2016 Weymouth Leviathan Literary Festival, Motocross, Weymouth Carnival as well as additional projects, such as Best Bar None, RU2 Drunk, and new Radios for Pubwatch as part of the Night Time Economy support.
Chair of Weymouth BID Steve Newstead said “Weymouth BID has contributed over £30,000 to various events and projects with funding ranging from £300 – £5,000. The marketing the BID can provide through the We Are Weymouth website and social media has proved useful in helping organisations promote their events and activities and is an additional support outside of funding.”
Notes : Requests for funding applications are invited and forms can be found at https://www.weymouthbid.co.uk/go.to/Match+Funding+Applications . Applications need to take into account the BID business plan and the criteria required when applying.
For more information simply email Weymouth BID [email protected] or call 01305 779410.
