New collective aims to deliver ‘refreshed’ Inverness events and festivals

A new approach to the delivery of a refreshed Inverness Common Good Fund’s events and festivals programme was agreed by Councillors at The Highland Council’s City of Inverness and Area Committee today.

The new approach will support the revitalisation, economic recovery and social well-being of the city as Scottish Government COVID-19 relaxation of restrictions allow in future.

Following the cancellation of the summer and winter 2020/21 programme due to the pandemic a working group was set up on behalf of the Inverness Common Good Fund comprising Highland Council, Eden Court and High Life Highland.

The collective is working towards a joint cross-organisational new model of delivery for a refreshed Inverness events and festivals programme which will aid the economic recovery of the city when COVID-19 restrictions allow.

Councillors have agreed a new vision for the programme which will inform future events and working practices and help build on the success of the City’s Events and Festivals Programme to date, which has been funded by the Inverness Common Good Fund and further enhance confidence with delivery partners and build links with potential funders.

They also agreed a set of values for the cross-organisational working group to help achieve its vision; and they endorsed key objectives that will shape the programme’s outcomes.

Councillors agreed for Inverness Common Good Funds of £303,000 to continue to be provided to support the development of a refreshed events and festivals programme.

Further detailed proposals and analysis of the new partnership arrangements for a refreshed and revitalised Inverness events and festivals programme will be presented to the meeting of the City of Inverness and Area Committee on 27 May 2021 for Members’ consideration.

All Inverness Common Good Fund future events and festivals will take place according to Scottish Government guidelines regarding COVID-19.

The Inverness events and festivals programme previously delivered the highly popular: Red Hot Highland Fling (Hogmanay); Highland Games; Halloween event; Bonfire Night; Christmas Lights switch-on; and Winter Wonderland.