AFTER weeks of deliberation the Chagford Arts Festival committee has voted unanimously to go ahead with this year's festival from July 19-22 and has cause for celebration after receiving grants of over £7,000 towards the costs.
The grants from the Lottery Awards for All scheme, the Key Fund and South West Arts were applied for before the foot and mouth crisis took hold but there was a danger that with some events being so close to Dartmoor National Park, the bi-annual event might have to be cancelled.
Co-ordinator Kate Wilson said after talks with the various authorities and the Chagford Traders Association, who had given their full support to the festival plans, it was decided to go ahead.
'We now have the authority to use the cricket ground which was one of the areas we were concerned about because it leads to the Commons and footpaths,' said Kate.
'The community play which normally takes place on a hill has been relocated to the town.'
Chagford Arts Festival committee has always been fortunate in gaining grants to put on the event with extra funds raised by the local community.
On this occasion £5,000 has come from the Lottery Awards for All scheme, £1,125 from the Key Fund towards the craft exhibition and walking art trail and £1,200 from South West Arts for the mass observation project 'Chagford — the Place and the People.'
The latter project includes a photography exhibition featuring the work of three local photographers — Marylou Townshend, Mat Chivers and James Tilly; a digital photography project for teenagers and a 'Diary of a Day' where each person in the parish is invited to write an account of their day on June 14.
The mass observation project will produce two exhibitions and work on a festival website.
Some of the other attractions at the festival will include a grand opening parade with the theme of mad hats, an evening of family entertainment culminating in a fireworks display, a space age picnic for the kids, 1940s musical afternoon, craft exhibition, classical music concert and kite and puppet making workshops.
Kate said as usual overwhelming support had been given by the community to the festival plans and everybody was looking forward to having a great time.
'This is our third festival and it encompasses the whole community because we pride ourselves on having something for everyone,' she said.
More details can be found on the Chagford Festival website — http://www.chagfest.org.uk">www.chagfest.org.uk