A BENEFACTOR is stumping up £250,000 towards an annual arts festival in Taunton Deane by young people for young people.

The windfall, to be paid out in instalments, will help facilitate plans for the event that is set to be staged at various venues across the district over several days in October next year.

Members of ArtsTaunton have been working on the initiative for months and the announcement of the donation from the Brownsword Charitable Trust will help create a sound financial base.

Trust head philanthropist and entrepreneur Andrew Brownsword said the cash would help plan ,develop and grow the festival over the next six years and beyond.

"We want our gift to be a springboard to inspire and encourage others to back this wonderful enterprise and to grow it as far as possible," said Mr Brownsword.

"This annual festival will be a fantastic platform on which to educate and develop young people from all backgrounds in all forms of artistic endeavour over the years to come."

Martyn Owen, vice-chairman of ArtsTaunton, which aims to transform the county town into a major regional centre for the arts, is responsible for facilitating the festival, which will see young people at the centre of everything.

He said: "This will become the must-see young people’s arts festival in South West England, showcasing the best of our young creative talent between the ages of five and 25.

"It will also encourage gifted participants with individual needs, and be inclusive of all socio-economic areas, groups and backgrounds within Taunton Deane."

Mr Brownsword agreed to back the project following several meetings with ArtsTaunton founder and trustee Kit Chapman, who described the donation as "a breakthrough" for the organisation.

He said: "We are all thrilled. Andrew Brownsword has underpinned the longer-term development of the festival and given us a firm foundation for our vision to be realised and fulfilled with confidence.

"Now the search is on for a festival director and we are inviting expressions of interest from qualified candidates for this exciting post."

Mr Chapman stressed that more donors are needed to ensure the success of the festival, while an appeal has been launched to attract more stakeholders and practitioners to help young people put together their plans.

Anyone who wishes to become involved in the festival in anyway should e-mail hello@artstaunton.co.uk