SPRING heralds a change in Herefordshire Council's funding of Creative Industries.

The track record has been good, enhanced over the past three years with EU and regional investment.

And when that comes to an end in April, the Arts Council will enable 'elements' of that programme to continue and new schemes to emerge, with a funding package worth £87,300 over three years.

The new programme, starting in May, will include continued support for h.Art week and Hereford Contemporary Craft Fair, while others go begging.

Projects left dangling include Flicks in the Sticks, MediaDev and Creative Breaks.

Natalia Silver, cultural services manager for Herefordshire Council said: "The Arts Council has provided us with a great opportunity to learn from the work of the last three years and really perfect our support for creative industries.

"This does represent a smaller programme of activity, but much more concentrated."

Creative Industries co-ordinator, Andy Dawson, said: "It represents a continuation in a different way after a huge amount of funding which was intended to create an industry which can support itself.

"A lot of what we are doing - investing in local creative people - we will continue to do by investing in projects," he said.

"I think that's for the best.

"There've been times when the money has got in the way - been too readily available - when what people really need to do is grow their business."

Media development officer at MediaDev, Stephen Broadfield confirmed that he was actively seeking funding.

"Support from Herefordshire Council has been excellent," he said.

"It has allowed a valuable initiative to be created and exist and I'm now committed to continuing it after very positive feedback from members.

"If you look at any of the organisations whose funding has been cut, they are not commercial products - they are providing a service and are dependent on trusts and charities to sustain and deliver their work.

Ian Kerry, from Arts Alive, confirmed that the source of rural entertainment that he runs, Flicks in the Sticks, had received a lifeline from Screen West Midlands.

And Andy Dawson confirmed that Creative Breaks was looking to carry on, having seen how co-operating together could work.

New projects that will be supported by the funding include a mentoring scheme between emerging and experienced artists and a scheme to promote relations between manufacturers and artists.

There will also be training for businesses interested in starting in creative industries, as well as a range of marketing schemes that promote arts products made in Herefordshire at regional, national and international levels.