TEN arts groups have been given a total of almost £15,000 by Kirklees Council.

The cash comes in the first round of grants in the council’s Arts in the Neighbourhood awards.

Grants range from £150 to £2,000.

Among those receiving money is Live Music Now, which is promoting an event called The Juice Project at Huddersfield University in October.

The Juice Vocal Ensemble will deliver performances for five groups of people, including children and adults with special needs and disabilities.

The performances will introduce audiences to music from the last 500 years and give them a chance to get involved through singing, body percussion, playing instruments, conducting and dancing.

At follow-up workshops at the Technical College people can develop song writing, vocal technique, performance skills and communication.

They will create a series of compositions which will be recorded by students at the university’s music department. A CD will be produced for each participant to keep.

Spen Valley Cultural Events will receive money for their project, Crown of Lights Free Music Festivals.

The two festivals will be in Green Park at Heckmondwike on the last Saturdays of July and August. They will feature music from secondary school pupils as well as amateur and professional performers.

The other groups are Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra for their summer Prom; Volunteers Without Borders for an African drumming project; Huddersfield Pink Picnic for their Pride Art scheme; Birdsedge Village Festival for a family arts workshop; Lepton Methodist Church for an art project; Jamaica Nationals; Huddersfield Jazz Club and Northern Legacy Community Interest Company for a film about Folly Hall Mill workers.

More cash awards will be made. The deadline for applications is August 29; only projects which will take place after December 1 can enter. For details ring the Arts and Creative Economy Team on 01484 226353.