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  Oxford Inspires, the cultural development agency for Oxfordshire, has won an award from Arts Council England to help the county’s millennium year end on a high note and ensure that the legacy of Oxfordshire 2007 will benefit arts organisations in future years.  A Grants for the Arts sum of just over £70,000 has been allocated, part of which will be used for Winter Light, a series of finale events across the county which will create additional opportunities for artists and creative producers. In addition, the grant also covers development work to evaluate the year-long programme and capture a sustainable legacy. Oxford Inspires will use these resources to exploit the year’s potential and secure a lasting positive impact in terms of opportunities for artists, arts organisations and audiences. Oxford Inspires chief executive Sarah Maxfield said: “For Oxfordshire 2007’s closing programme we wanted to raise awareness that local communities across the county can collaborate with professionals to mount their own spectacular events, which are exciting and locally rooted, and that this work can happen outside Oxford too. In doing so we are building capacity in the county for future celebratory events as part of a Cultural Olympiad programme. We are extremely grateful to Arts Council England for their support.” Arts Council England also provided £80,000 funding for Oxfordshire 2007’s major opening event Luminox in March which attracted wide acclaim and more than 20,000 to Oxford’s historic Broad Street.  The theme of light and spectacle is continued in Winter Light with Symphonie Conique, an installation of giant illuminated cones which respond to light and sound. Symphonie Conique, by French company Airvag, will make an appearance in Oxford (as part of the city’s White Night, where galleries, museums and theatres will be opening late into the night, and public spaces will see street performance and participatory events), Henley and Chipping Norton. In Abingdon and Bicester, special light and sound productions by Oxfordshire company Pyro-Theatrix, local artists and community groups will highlight a thousand years of local history. Oxfordshire 2007’s Winter Light finale events are designed to enhance the festive celebrations already being arranged by local towns.  Richard Russell, Director of External Relations at Arts Council England, South East said: “Winter Light promises to be a series of visually exciting events across Oxfordshire, celebrating the culmination of 1,000 years of history and helping to place the arts firmly at the heart of communities throughout the county. The Arts Council is delighted to be working with local authorities, the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University to enable more people throughout Oxfordshire to enjoy the experience of art.”