Decision

To award Harrogate International Festivals
£24k per annum for a further two financial years 2026-27 and
2027-28 to support delivery of the Cultural Strategy.

Reasons for the decision

To extend the current grant awarded to
Harrogate International Festival (HIF) for a further two years to
support delivery of the Cultural Strategy, with KPI’s to be
agreed. This reflects the contribution of HIF to Harrogate and
brings the grant to HIF in line with the other cultural grants
which have been awarded for a three year period (to March 2028). In
line with the other cultural grants, all cultural grants will be
reviewed again at the end of the funding period.

Alternative options considered

To not extend the grant beyond the one year
period previously agreed, either to release a small saving or to
reallocate the funding. This was rejected on the basis that the
funding to HIF would support cultural strategy objectives and
delivered significant benefit for Harrogate.