As a result of just some of the grants, country dancers will be travelling to Norway, teenage singers will be able to attend workshops, and local groups and clubs will be able to buy equipment to further their activities.

The grants are a mixture of personal development grants and project support for community groups.

Local winners include the following:

The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival at Portsoy is exploring the depths of creativity by bringing the intriguingly-named Ultra Violet Underwater den to the festival at the end of June.

The youngsters of the Banffshire branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society will be heading for Norway to take part in the Skude Festival in July to perform a variety of ceilidh and Scottish country dances, as well as carrying out demonstrations and coaching sessions.

Two young singers from Banff and Whitehills will receive support to travel to National Youth Choir of Scotland workshops between now and August.

Banff poet John Mackie and guitarist Adrian Baillie make up the duo Infinite Equation. Their unique combination of talents blends poetry and improvised guitar music in a performance which 'animates air'.

Their grant, awarded in January, was put towards the cost of recording a demo CD at the ARC studio at Aden Country Park.

A new arts organisation successfully bid for a foundation grant in order to help get established. The Banffshire Artists Collective also received a project support grant which will go some way towards funding the creation of a temporary exhibition as part of this year's Coast visual arts festival in May.

Another new project, run by Mental Health Aberdeen in Banff, has received funding towards vital equipment. 'Mindspace' uses high-quality visual arts activities to enhance the sense of wellbeing and support the recovery process of individuals experiencing mental health concerns.

Banff Art Club's photographic section, meanwhile, has been given funding to enable the club to buy a projector.

Chair of the forum, Helen Harrison, said: "The forum was delighted by the record number of applications received, and while not all of the applicants were successful this time round, we have paid out more than £8,000 in arts grant funding to North-east artists since January.

Banff poet John Mackie and guitarist Adrian Baillie from Whitehills at work in the recording studio at Aden Park, thanks to funding from the Banff and Buchan Arts Forum. The duo call themselves Infinite Equation, and will be performing during the Coast arts festival in May.

"Arts activity in Banff and Buchan sometimes needs a helping hand to sustain and develop; we are pleased to be able to assist both community groups and individuals with their creative and cultural activities."

The forum described the applications for financial support during this round as a flood, and an extended meeting of the grant sub-committee had to be organised in order to give due consideration to each of the 18 applicants.

Other successful applicants include dancer Gemma Caine, of New Aberdour, who will be given assistance to attend the Scottish Youth Dance Project.

An African drumming group will be beating up a storm at Fraserburgh Heritage Society, and the town's Lighthouse receives a grant for a poetry/visual event.

Publication of a new book of music and songs by the last of a famous family of traditional singers, Elizabeth Stewart from Mintlaw, is also being supported.

Banff and Buchan Arts Forum is a voluntary organisation working in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council's arts development team.

It serves to promote the arts and interests of artists and arts audiences in the North Aberdeenshire area, including Banff and Buchan.

The forum numbers practising artists, writers and events co-ordinators among its members, together with residents interested in the arts.

Financial assistance awarded by the forum comes from Aberdeenshire Council's arts in the community fund. Grants are available all year. The closing date for the next round of applications is April 30.

The scope and scale of grants available and application forms can be found on the forum's website at www.bbaf-arts.org.uk

boardman_g@spp-group.com

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