PLANS are being drawn up for Kidderminster Arts Festival (KAF) 2018 which will take place in August.

The theme this year will be “Strength and Resilience” with a focus on the centenary of the end of the First World War, a celebration of 100 years of women’s right to vote and Circus250 – a UK-wide celebration of 250 years of circus.

Wyre Forest District Council has applied to the Arts Council for around £25,000 to help fund this year’s festival

If funding is secured, festival organisers plan to host a variety of treats for all the family including street theatre, live events, community workshops, film screenings and exhibitions.

Councillor Juliet Smith, cabinet member for culture, leisure and community protection, said: “We hope to celebrate Kidderminster’s relationship with these various landmark anniversaries during this very special year.

“Our theme will be Strength and Resilience and just one aspect of this is the strength of partnerships KAF has with many local groups.

“There are lots of ideas brewing for events and exhibitions not only in the town centre, but at venues like the Museum of Carpet and Severn Valley Railway.

“There are also lots of ideas already in the pipeline for the very popular Kidderminster Fringe Festival.”