Nineteen local artists, creatives, performers, and community groups have won a share of £7,200 funding in the latest North Ayrshire Council Arts and Culture Participatory Budgeting awards.

Delivered by the council's Arts and Culture team via the Shaping North Ayrshire website, more than 400 votes were cast for the worthy recipients across all six localities.

The winners will receive up to £400 each. They are: 

North Ayrshire wide: Arts for Isolation with Lynn McNally; Pathway into music for North Ayrshire school pupils.

Arran: Arran Gaelic Choir (Coisir Ghaidhlig Arainn); Events Arran: Arran Rock and Blues Festival 2024; The Arran International Festival of Chamber and Song.

North Coast and Cumbraes: Largs Music Club; Oor Hame (Coast collective documentary).

Garnock Valley: Dalry Burns Club; Garnock Valley Communty Concert Band; Garnock Valley Pipes and Drums; Murder Mystery Event Bypass Art: Youth To The Fore in 2024.

Irvine: Arts and Crafts Family After School Club (Castlepark Primary Parent Council); Irvine and Dreghorn Brass.

Three Towns: Betsy Miller Awareness Pop-Up event; Writing for Wellbeing; Stage Effect Lighting Project for Pantomime in Stevenston;  St Matthew's Parent Council International Photography Competition; Everyone an Artist Workshops with Ellie Swanson.

Councillor Alan Hill, cabinet member for communities and islands, said: “It is fantastic to learn that residents across North Ayrshire have taken the time out to vote and back local artists, performers and cultural groups that are making such a difference already in our communities.

“Up to £400 will be allocated per project across Arran, North Coast and Cumbraes, the Garnock Valley, Irvine, Kilwinning, and the Three Towns.

“Our residents know better than anyone else which projects will be the most beneficial to them in their local communities, so it is only fair that they were the ones to decide upon where the money was best spent.

“Participatory Budgeting really is an inspirational example of community empowerment in action, and it has already made such a massive difference to many local projects over the last few years.

"I wish the recipients the best of luck and every success in their creative ventures this year and look forward to seeing how they put the funding they receive to good use.”

To find out more about funding opportunities with North Ayrshire Council, visit: http://www.northayrshire.community/community-empowerment/