WREN Music in Okehampton will receive arts funding from Devon County Council, having been recognised as a priority group.

The council's new arts investment programme will focus on priority groups, including children and young people, people with disabilities and older people across the county.

Wren Music work with traditional music to inspire creativity and celebrate cultural identities.

Working mainly in Devon, Wren has relationships with organisations and artists throughout Great Britain and strong overseas connections. They hold music workshops and events throughout the year, including the annual week-long summer music club for children on their school holidays, and the Baring-Gould Folk Festival, which takes place every autumn.

Set against the backdrop of Government cuts, the council has had to reduce its arts budget by 46% this year, making £214,000 funding available to arts organisations.

In future the council wants to introduce commissions for arts activity that will engage with people in priority groups, enabling them to become involved in projects with experienced artists, to help them develop their own creative skills.

The council will consult with arts organisations to help develop a tendering process that will select those chosen to run these activities next year.

The council also wants to introduce small one-off grants to organisations that can demonstrate regular pledges of donations from the public.

The Devon Arts Match grants will aim to encourage arts organisations to attract regular individual donations from the public, as they pledge to match the regular donations received.

Cllr Roger Croad, Devon County Council's cabinet member with responsibility for arts, said: 'Funding available for arts investment has reduced considerably, but unlike some authorities, we have not cut the budget entirely.

'Instead, we want to make sure that the support we give benefits priority groups of people, including children and young people, older people, and people with disabilities, across Devon.'

For more information on Wren Music visit http://www.wrenmusic.co.uk">www.wrenmusic.co.uk