ARTISTIC groups in Kirklees have received thousands of pounds.

One of the big winners from this year's West Yorkshire Joint Services grants scheme is the Yorkshire Sculpture Park at West Bretton, which was awarded £46,891.

The scheme cover the five council areas of Kirklees, Calderdale, Wakefield, Bradford and Leeds.

All the councils pay into the pot. Some of this money is then redistributed as grants.

The sculpture park's executive director, Peter Murray, said: "We are delighted to receive a grant. West Yorkshire grants are crucial to the continued development of the sculpture park.

"The grant will help to pay for core activities and attract major international art events to the park for the benefit of West Yorkshire in general."

Other grants include:

* Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival: £14,428.

* Marsden-based Mikron Theatre: £3,920.

* Figment Theatre Company in Holmfirth: £14,700.

* Kirklees Theatre Trust: £30,061.

* Huddersfield's Proper Job Theatre Projects: £17,072.