Millennium plan looks to the stars (From Warrington Guardian)

Millennium plan looks to the stars

A GRANT of £20,000 to help people in Middlewich and the rest of Congleton borough celebrate the millennium has been won by the council in partnership with Jodrell Bank radio telescope.

The money, from North West Art Board's Millennium Festival Fund, will be used to fund a borough-wide project that will utilise the arts to mark the Year 2000.

Light will be used as a symbolic link throughout the project, entitled Light Year 2000.

The spiritual, cultural and scientific aspects of light are the core to the project and the significance of Jodrell Bank's scientific identity is recognised by placing it as the central venue for the project.

It will be launched at Jodrell Bank in March 2000 to coincide with National Science week.

The following six months, through to September 2000, will explore the theme of light through a series of professional artists residencies based in each of the five towns of the borough. The three main arts forms will be visual arts and crafts, dance and drama.

"We are absolutely delighted to have secured this grant from the Millennium Festival Fund," Peter Cooper, managing director of Congleton Borough Council, said.

"In partnership with Jodrell Bank we will be able to develop a cross community arts project to celebrate the new millennium."

The long-term outcomes of the project will be the establishment of working partnerships and communications mechanisms between groups and organisations across the borough.

This will be carried out through the setting up of arts and cultural forums in each town which will inform and develop cultural activities and stimulate community regeneration.

Residencies, based in accessible venues in each town including town halls, civic centres and schools, will each provide a programme of participatory workshops, performances and events to coincide with the existing festivals and carnivals within the borough.

Carol MacGregor, arts development officer with Congleton Borough Council, has been instrumental in developing the Light Year 2000 project with Jodrell Bank.

Commenting on the successful bid, she said: "It is fantastic that we have received this money from the Millennium Festival Fund and I'm sure it will be a great success.

"The aim of the project is to bring people and professional artists together to simulate cultural activity and to raise the aspirations of the communities and individuals involved in the project."

The Millennium Festival was looking to support projects that were innovative and showed outstanding qualities, whilst having a major impact on the locality and beyond.

Paul Roots, lottery coordinator at North West Arts Board, said: "The Art's Council's Millennium Festival Fund will have a real impact on thousands of people.

"The award for Congleton borough will allow communities and artists to make their own mark and express what the millennium means to them."

Funding for Congleton borough has been provided through the joint commitment of the Millennium Commission, The Arts Council of England Lottery Fund and the New Millennium Experience Company.

The next 12 months, before the project begins, will see the selection of artists by the lead organisations.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.