MORE arts projects are on the cards for York after local groups won nearly £90,000 in funding from a national body.

Arts Council England, which distributes arts money from the National Lottery and the Government, has awarded grants to four organisations in York.

The largest slice of the city's share of the cash will go to Arts Action York, which was granted £72,300 to develop a wide range of community arts activities for local residents. The group plans to spend the cash in training local artists to deliver its arts programme.

Activities include working with young people and a construction company to turn building site hoardings into an open air art gallery, and permanent artworks made by communities living near eight new children's centres.

Another group which has received funding is Art And About, an organisation which provides art workshops to vulnerable groups such as older people with dementia and prison inmates.

Allison Williams, who runs Art And About with fellow artist Lynne Peacock, said the £4,950 secured by the group would ensure its long-term future, by enabling it to boost its profile by investing in marketing. Without the cash, she doubted the group would have been able to continue its work.

"We're very pleased," she said. "It will mean we can carry on working. We'll be a more viable business concern, rather than just struggling day to day."

The Hull International Jazz Festival, which is showcasing performances and projects in York to commemorate the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade, has gained £9,075.

The festival's first presentation will be a show called Let Freedom Ring, which is being held at York's Theatre Royal in July.

Meanwhile, the York-based Pilot Theatre Company was handed £1,000.