MONEY is available for community artwork under the Tarka Country Trust?s community grant schemes. Artwork can take the form of poetry or booklets; performing art, such as plays or music or visual art such as photographs, traditional craftwork or paintings. All must be capable of being seen or used by the community and have the North Devon?s Biosphere Reserve as its subject. There is also a chance to win a £250 prize. The reserve was designated by UNESCO as a ?special place for people and nature? and is classed as a living laboratory for testing out and demonstrating sustainable development on a regional scale. This easy to enter competition is open to any community groups, including groups of friends; regulars at a local pub; workmates or a school. To qualify as a community group there just needs to be a minimum of six people who live or work in the same community or have a common interest, as long as at least two of the group are over 18 years of age. Initial expressions of interest should be made immediately so application forms and guidance notes can be sent out in early September. A panel of judges from the Biosphere Reserve Partnership will review the entries in early October and recommend the best 20 to Tarka Country Trust. If the trust approves the recommendations it will then give the selected 20 entrant groups £50 each to help them work-up their ideas and submit them for a chance to win one of 13 prizes, with a first prize of £250. Send a letter or post card expression of interest with your name and address to Tarka Country Trust, 17 The Quay, Bideford, Devon, EX39 2EN or e-mail it to [email protected]">[email protected] In addition, the Lloyds TSB Foundation has provided Tarka Country Trust with special funding to support disadvantaged individuals and communities to form self-help groups within the Biosphere?s wider northern Devon area. Applications for support to create and develop new self-help groups can be made immediately by letter.
