Salisbury International Arts Festival has been awarded a grant of around £100,000 under Natural England’s Access To Nature Programme. The Festival is the first arts organisation nationally to be awarded a grant under this scheme which states its goal as the desire to improve people’s access to green spaces.

The grant was awarded for the Festival’s 3-year project, The Nature of Art in Wessex which aims to increase communities’ access to nature through art. Linking art and nature and encouraging people to engage in their environment in creative and innovative ways. It will involve all parts of communities in a variety of projects.

Maria Bota, Festival Director says: ‘This ground-breaking project will enable the Festival to work across the ancient Wessex area in six locations including Laverstock, Southampton, Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight, Bournemouth and Devizes. The Festival’s partnership with Natural England provides a terrific opportunity for the Festival and communities to work together to increase access to our green spaces through inspiring artistic and environmental connections. All the work will be led by the communities in each location, working closely with artists and with the magnificent platform of this international festival in which to showcase their work.’

Chris Burke, Natural England regional adviser for the South West for the Access to Nature scheme said : ‘We are very pleased to have been able to support this innovative project which has the specific aim of linking the community to their local natural environment through artistic activities and events. This type of approach demonstrates the many different ways that barriers to accessing and appreciating nature can be removed.’

For more information about the grant scheme go to: www.salisburyfestival.co.uk