Heroes and villains are being urged to make a contribution to a popular arts festival.

Organisers of Royston Arts Festival are calling on local groups –and artists, actors, dancers, musicians and writers – to come forward with suggestions for events they would like to be included in the 2014 festival, the theme of which is Heroes and Villains.

Last year about 30 different organisations ran events, exhibitions and workshops during the 10-day festival.

Graham Palmer is chairman of Creative Royston, the group which organises the festival.

He said: “We don’t go around asking individual artists, clubs and groups to be part of the festival. We rely on them coming to us with ideas they want to explore. We are always on the lookout for new contributors who are happy to organise their own event.”

The Creative Royston committee offers advice, a regular event organisers’ newsletter and some funding for those wanting to contribute an event.

Mr Palmer said: “To help things get off the ground, we are happy to seed-fund events that would not happen without a little cash boost.” Last year due to a donation from Royston First, the festival handed out about £1,000 in seed-funding which helped such groups as the Royston Photographic Society, Corvus Amateur Drama Society (CADS), the Friends of Tannery Drift School, Royston Town Band, the Royston and District Museum and Dadsing, to run events.

This year seed-funding will also be available for independent festival events.

“In 2014 the festival’s theme is Heroes and Villains,” said Mr Palmer.

“Who’s your hero? Or do you prefer the dark side? We just ask organisers to try to work their event around the theme.”

For information on submitting an event or applying for seed-funding visit the festival website at www.creativeroyston.org. The deadline for submissions is 28 April 2014.

For more details visit www.roystonartsfestival.org, twitter.com/royartsfest or facebook.com/roystonartsfestival

A new festival logo has also been unveiled for the 2014 event, which is supported by Johnson Matthey. It runs between 19-28 September.