THREE Kerry arts festivals and initiatives will benefit from the Arts Council collaborative arts scheme which was announced by Minister Heather Humphreys at the Arts Council in Dublin on Tuesday.

Kerry County Council, along with Cork County Council and Limerick County Council, was awarded €10,000 funding for the Sliabh Luachra Music Trail – an initiative that aims to promote and protect the unique musical heritage of the area.

Kerry County Council, along with Cork City Council, applied for funding that would allow for the creative mentoring of six festivals in the two counties. The Kerry festivals to benefit from the award of €71,000 will be K-Fest Music and Arts Festival in Killorglin and Listowel Writers’ Week.

The aim of the scheme is to promote better collaboration between local authorities in relation to the arts.

“I am delighted that Kerry has been successful in obtaining two awards under the Invitation to Collaborate Scheme,” said Kate Kennelly, Arts Officer with Kerry County Council. “A total of six projects were awarded funding – for Kerry to be included in two of them is a testament to the wealth of artistic practise and arts events in the county. Kerry County Council looks forward to working with our counterparts in Limerick and Cork and all involved in the successful projects.”