THE future of a North Yorkshire world music festival has been secured with a £47,000 lottery grant.

The Arts Council has pledged the money to the organisers of Musicport, in Whitby.

The announcement comes after this year's festival, held last month, was declared the best ever.

Performers and audiences came to the seaside resort from all over the world, said festival organiser Jim McLaughlin.

He said: "The event was a complete sell-out and we had a really great atmosphere.

"We had visitors from Canada, Australia and Japan, and artists from Bosnia, Mexico and India.

"The Arts Council came along and seemed very pleased with the way it went.

"The Arts Council is our main source of money, particularly as our single regeneration budget funding ends next year.

"They've been fantastic and we're very grateful for their support."

Thirty eight projects in Yorkshire and the Humber will receive a total of £510,494 in these latest rounds of lottery cash grants.

Other projects in North Yorkshire to receive money include Pickering community group Fun Activities Made Exciting.

Volunteers received £2,662 to run arts activities for ten to 16-year-olds.

The group plans to work with professional artists to explore dance, food and fashion from the 1920s to the present day.

Scarborough Women's Aid received £5,000 to hire local visual artist Gabrielle Naptali to provide a reg- ular activity day for women who have suffered domestic abuse.

A grant of £38,000 has been pledged to York College to help recent visual arts graduates establish themselves in their new careers.

Jessie's Fund, a York-based organisation which helps children with learning disabilities through the use of music for communication, will receive £5,000.

Andy Carver, executive director of Arts Council England, Yorkshire, said: "We are pleased to be able to invest in a wide range of artists and arts organisations across the region.

"Creative businesses and a healthy cultural life are key to thriving and sustainable communities.

"They develop a sense of belonging and pride in the places we live and work in.

"Many of the projects we support help keep rural communities alive, boosting tourism and the local economy."