Thursday, 15 March 2007

Hebdenroyd Town Council has granted £6,000 to the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival to help make this year’s programme the best ever.

Last month, Festival organisers hear they had won an Arts Council grant to support a special series of events to celebrate the bicentenary of the abolition of slavery. This latest award, though, will mean some nationally and internationally acclaimed acts can be brought to the area.

Although the full programme is still under wraps until the launch on May 12, it has been revealed that guests will include Honor Blackman and Ian McMillan. The Festival has also stolen a march on the Edinburgh Festival by securing two star comedians before they hit Edinburgh’s Fringe.

Multi-award winning Robin Ince (BBC2's Mock the Week and Never Mind the Buzzcocks) comes to Hebden Bridge direct from touring with Ricky Gervais on the fastest-selling British comedy tour ever.

“The support of the local council is vital to the Festival,” says organiser Enid Stephenson,”not just financially, but because it shows the Festival is valued by local people.”

Postal bookings begin on May 14 and the Festival box office will be open for telephone and face-to-face bookings from June 16. The Festival runs from June 30 to July 15. If you’d like to be kept in touch with what’s planned, email hbfestival@gmail.com or visit www.hebdenbridge.co.uk/festival

Can’t chain up me mind - Davina Wright sings in the opening event for this year’s Hebden Bridge Arts Festival.

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