Dumfries and Galloway’s Culture and Heritage Sectors Receive Funding Boost

Dumfries and Galloway Council has made fourteen grant awards to cultural and heritage projects across the region totalling more than £62,000.

The funding is from the new Regional Cultural Fund 2024/25, and the grants programme has been made possible through the council securing £96,000 of funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund earlier this year. The council is managing the fund on behalf of the steering group for the Cultural Partnership in Dumfries and Galloway.

The funding will enhance cultural and heritage development across the region for the benefit of local people and visitors. The renowned music organisation Absolute Classics are to plan and introduce a new Jazz Festival in the spring of 2025, the Whithorn Trust will produce an in-depth new visitor guide that includes information on cycling and walking routes in the Machars, and the Henry Duncan Savings Museum in Ruthwell is being funded to modernise their displays and interpretation boards.

Among other projects being supported is a series of events at Rosefield Mills in Dumfries to create public awareness of the mill’s history and restoration. In Annan, there is also detailed community engagement work to take forward the Annan History Town initiative.

Gail Macgregor, the Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council said: “There was a superb response to the Regional Cultural Fund, with thirty five eligible applications received, and the council and its partners are delighted to be able to announce the funding for 14 excellent projects across Dumfries and Galloway. It is clear that dozens of organisations which are active in our region hold our culture and heritage dear and work tirelessly to support and promote it.”

Tabi Mudalier, Director of DG Unlimited said: "DG Unlimited was delighted by the high number of excellent responsesand high quality projects from all applicants. The successful projects will further enhancethe cultural sector in our region, and is proving to be a positiveway to sharethe prosperityof the funding received from the UK Government. We look forward to seeing the results of the projects in the coming months. Congratulations to all the awardees. Our thanks to Dumfries and Galloway Council for the opportunity to assist with the delivery of this funding round."

Judith Hewitt, Chair of Dumfries and GallowayMuseums and Heritage Network said, “I’m so pleased that the Regional Cultural Fund has been able to support heritage projects from across our region. There hasn’t been a regional fund that heritage organisations can apply to for some time and there is clear demand. I look forward to see how these exciting and diverse projects develop to help sustain the work of our sector in Dumfries and Galloway.”


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