Organisers behind a festival which sees international performers take over the streets of Shrewsbury are celebrating after being handed £70,000 in funding for the next two years.
The cash has been given to Shrewsbury International Street Theatre Festival by Arts Council West Midlands.
It will be used to help fund a special ticket-only variety show at Shrewsbury Castle and a host of renowned street performers including mural artists, a free-running group and performers coming from as far afield as Australia.
Bill Ferguson, festival director, said he was delighted to receive the funding, and added it would help the festival, which is in its fourth year, to ‘step up a few gears’. But he added he was still keen for more people to help provide financial support for the event, which he said cost around £80,000 a year to run.
The festival will be held from September 4 to 6 and will see town centre streets closed and divided into zones for different types of performers with four main stages set up.
Mr Ferguson said: “This funding will make a great difference and will enable the festival to step up a few gears. Arts funding is being slashed across the country – to get this funding for two years is nothing short of miraculous.”
To find out more information about the street theatre festival visit www.shrewsburystreetfest.co.uk