Community / Town centre organisation hopes mascot costume will gave Da Street a boost
LERWICK Community Council has approved one of its more unusual funding applications on Monday night – a request for cash to create a costume of town centre mascot Maunsie.
Living Lerwick, who is behind the mascot character based on the Market Cross, applied for £954 towards the custom-made costume.
The town centre organisation was awarded the funding at a meeting of Lerwick Community Council on Monday evening.
“A full size Maunsie would be used as a figurehead for public events in the town centre and would assist with attracting footfall as the town recovers and restarts from the coronavirus crisis,” its application said.
“As large public gatherings are not possible and are unlikely to be for some time, Maunsie can instead be used to attract smaller numbers to particular areas as part of a trail, invited event or in a specific business to promote a product or service.”
Maunsie – which was designed by local artist Stephen Gordon in response to a competition held by the organisation – could also go on the road to country shows, for example, to promote Lerwick once guidance allows.
Project manager Emma Miller said increasing footfall to the town centre, and maintaining a ‘buy local’ campaign is “particularly important just now and there are plans to hold a series of events during the October holidays to provide entertainment for families and utilise the town centre as a welcoming, vibrant and attractive place”.
The remaining £1,000 of the costume’s full £1,954 cost would come from the levies paid by business improvement district members.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.