WEYMOUTH and Portland is set for an art attack.

A programme of street art is being lined up while community projects will be getting a share of funds to help their work.

It’s all about boosting arts activities in the borough to improve public space and make the town more attractive.

Borough councillors will be urged to give the green light to releasing £70,000 from reserves and consider spending a further £200,000 later to support initiatives.

At a meeting in December, councillors agreed their preference for future action in respect of the arts by agreeing to support local community projects, and design a programme of public art.

Regarding supporting projects, a report says this would involve allocating modest one-off grants to not-for-profit arts initiatives and activities to allow them to secure additional external funding.

Councillors will be asked to spend £20,000 setting up this Community Arts Grant Scheme.

Regarding a public art project, the report says a longer-term public art programme will be developed to design options for new works of a permanent street art in Weymouth – possibly included within new developments around the masterplan sites. This programme would be developed through community consultation and the involvement of contributing artists. For stage one, the council would spend £30,000 for preparatory work, and later £200,000.

In addition, it is recommended that £20,000 is made available for Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust for its ‘Memory Stones’ project, an entry point to the Tout Quarry Sculpture Park and other areas of the island.

The report to the management committee next week says: “The projects represent an ambitious arts programme for the borough and are designed to reflect the aspirations of the management committee to support both high quality public art (for the benefit of both residents and visitors) and community-based creativity.”

It adds: “A key driver for investment in arts projects, particularly public art and the creative improvement of public realm, is the ability of high quality installations and designs to help ‘redefine’ public perception of a community.

“By allocating resources to improving the public realm, the council can help to increase the attractiveness of an area and set the tone for the quality of new development.”