ARTS Alive celebrates summer with the launch of a new programme of top quality live, professional drama, music and comedy for autumn and winter. There’s a brochure packed full of great shows and all the information is online at www.artsalive.co.uk.

Arts Alive audiences throughout Herefordshire and Shropshire enjoy great performances and a relaxed atmosphere in venues at the heart of their local community.

The new season features the usual eclectic mix: South African a capella group Simply Soweto Encha; a welcome return for the fabulous Tim Kliphuis Trio with Celebrating Stéphane Grappelli; compelling drama from Arletty Theatre with Swan Canaries, about the women working in a WWI shell-filling factory, and Clod Ensemble with The Red Chair, a surreal story about a man who could not stop eating, the wife doomed to cook his meals and their 'inveesible' daughter.

There's also another great Canadian group The Fugitives and local hero John Kirkpatrick’s Christmas show, Carolling and Crumpets. There are several chances to catch the hilarious New Rope String Band before they finally split up, and a funny-scary one-man version of Dracula for Hallowe’en. The youngest audiences are catered for too, with delightful rhyme, song, movement and puppetry from the talented Herefordshire-based company Open Sky who present The Mighty Prince and Other Fabulous Tales.

In the context of continuing cuts to funding for arts and culture, Arts Council England is aiming to increase the proportion of funding that goes to regions other than London. Arts Alive is a great example of how relatively small amounts of public money can deliver entertaining – and sometimes challenging - world class performances to rural audiences. Working with a dedicated network of local, volunteer promoters, Arts Alive provides the support to make a cultural evening out an accessible and affordable experience for all.

In 2014-15 Arts Alive and sister organisation Flicks in the Sticks had a total audience of over 40,000 at more than 1,000 events including films, live shows and satellite screenings. Whilst really grateful to funders, including Arts Council England and Shropshire Council, and new sponsor Organic Energy, for their support, the company also gives a big shout out to the dozens of local people who commit their time and enthusiasm to keeping the Arts Alive!