New arts festival set for south Devon

The arts festival would involve communities from across the South Hams

A new week-long arts festival is set to be launched in south Devon next summer.

South Hams District Council hopes the event will bring together community arts organisations from across the area.

It said it was working closely with performing arts specialists, Totnes-based NDP Circus, to deliver the project, using a variety of venues and locations.

The key theme of the arts festival would be climate change.

Councillor John Birch, South Hams executive member for economic development and commercial strategy, said: "An arts festival encompassing our communities would be a huge boon for the district.

"We are looking for our towns and parishes to really buy into the idea, so that this truly is an event for the whole South Hams.

"The festival could be a launchpad for wider activities in the district and leave a significant legacy", he added.

The council estimates the festival would cost about £175,000 to produce, with funding sought from the Arts Council and the private sector.