I AM writing on behalf of Kelty Art and Regeneration Trust (K-ART)

We were surprised and concerned to read the following article in the Central Fife Times, published on 21/6/2018. “£100,000 Funding Boost”

We feel we need to put the record straight on a few things in this particular article as there are inaccuracies, but we also feel, insinuation, that groups such as Kelty Art and Regeneration Trust, are not fulfilling expectations or requirements as part of their successful funding applications.

Firstly, Kelty Art and Regeneration Trust (K-ART) did NOT receive any grant funding in June 2018, as is published in the article.

We were, however, delighted to be successful in our funding application at a previous Area Committee meeting on the 21st February 2018, receiving the grant in April 2018.

Secondly, to quote “But the committee feels that they do not get enough information on how projects progress from funding” and “there have been a few groups in Kelty who have received funding and we never hear how successful they have been.”

K-ART gave a full report of our first phase project which we had funded through Fife Council, which was Blackhall Square in Kelty, completed in 2017, at the Cowdenbeath Area Committee on the 21st February 2018 as part of our presentation for the current funding.

The funding application included detailed budgets and community consultation plans.

We were very pleased to be successful in this funding application and we really appreciated the wholly positive comments and support we got from councillors and committee members on the day of that meeting.

To clarify, the Terms and Conditions within the funding application states that “It is a requirement that an evaluation/monitoring form is completed at the end of the project, or after 6 months”

K-ART are committed to fulfilling this requirement, when we do receive said form from Cowdenbeath Area Committee, and also to provide feedback to the committee if requested at any time.

To quote from the article, Committee Convener, Councillor Linda Erskine “I think it is only fair that these groups are asked to give us that sort of information when they have asked for support”

Kelty Art and Regeneration Trust have been very grateful and appreciate having absolutely tremendous support from the community and local businesses, to Cowdenbeath Area Committee for granting the funding, from Coalfields Regeneration Trust who supported our Kelty Creatives community day, which was attended by over 500 people (including our local councillors) and by very generous donations to our crowdfund campaign from local people and businesses.

We do our utmost to be clear in what we do, and to consult with and involve the community at every stage.

There are almost daily updates on our public Facebook Page, Kelty Street Art Collective, and we are contactable by email at keltyartregenerationtrust@gmail.com.

Therefore we feel that our group should NOT have been mentioned in the way it has been in the above article,

CAROL GILMOUR,

Secretary K-ART