Spring Fling arts event generated £780,000

Spring Fling brochure The arts event took place for the ninth time in Dumfries and Galloway this year
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The annual Spring Fling arts festival in Dumfries and Galloway is estimated to have brought more than £750,000 to the region's economy this year.

It is estimated about 10,500 people attended the events on offer.

The festival sees arts and craftspeople across the region open their doors to the public.

It is the ninth time the May Bank Holiday weekend event has been held and there are now plans to further expand its programme.

Figures collated this year suggest that just under 10,500 people attended the open studio events and that their spend - including accommodation and meals - was £781,000 - a little more than £75 per head.

Feedback surveys also reveal a high level of satisfaction.

A total of 583 people filled in evaluation forms and almost all of them described the event as "excellent" or "good".

Spring Fling is now set for further expansion having just been awarded funding of nearly £80,000 from the Dumfries and Galloway LEADER Programme and the Holywood Trust.

A new project manager - Leah Black - is about to take up her post.

Her remit includes the development of a Spring Fling "Springboard" project - a bursary and mentoring scheme for recent arts and crafts graduates to get involved in both Spring Fling and the region's wider arts community.

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