LOCAL talent is expected to play a much bigger part in an annual celebration of the arts.

Brass bands, amateur dramatic groups and choirs will be asked if they would like to headline Rossfest 1998.

Rossendale Council's leisure committee sponsors and helps promote the annual Valley celebration.

This week, chairman Councillor Lawrence Forshaw outlined his vision for next year's festival. He said:

"I would like to see the week start with a concert by local brass bands and finish with an evening of singing from the Valley's choirs. And I would like to see local people involved much more."

The annual Whitworth Festival, which lasts a fortnight and involves the whole village, could be a blueprint for Rossfest.

Its programme this year included an arts and craft exhibition, a supper dance, an It's a Knockout swimming gala, a tea dance, a dance academy, an evening of brass and jazz, a family disco, a casino night, a Scout gala and a Songs of Praise evening at St John's Church.

In contrast, the more highbrow Rossfest featured a dance theatre, a jazz evening, a guitar recital, an acoustic and poetry recital, a rock showcase, a calligraphy workshop, a reggae evening and line dancing.

Now a special committee of councillors from all the Rossendale towns is to be set up to start discussions.

Organisations such as Rossendale Players and Horse and Bamboo will be invited to send delegates and councillors will have talks with Mid-Pennine Arts, who have played a leading role in Rossfest.

Councillor Forshaw said he was concerned that attendance at Rossfest events this year were patchy.

The festival was held at the beginning of May and poor weather affected attendances at outdoor events.

Now councillors may look at holding the festival later in the year in the hope of better weather.

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