"THREE cheers, absolutely" is Ray Barker's reaction, when I ask how Arts Alive has affected the Herefordshire village of Stoke Prior.

"As an organisation it's quite frankly revitalised our village," he says in his capacity of chairman of the village hall committee.

"With 300 people it's out of the fiscal reach of the village itself to bring the variety of entertainment that Arts Alive facilitates. Over the past six years we've had some remarkable entertainment of many kinds in Stoke Prior. We've been shown parts of the world of entertainment not otherwise seen."

"An institution like Arts Alive acts as a lifeline for villages in a cultural context, and they make it so simple and easy with assistance with promoting the events. It would be a dreadful day if they weren't able to continue what they're doing due to funding cuts."

It's proof that rural arts organisation Arts Alive is achieving exactly what they're after.

Arts Alive, which has evolved over the past 10 years, finds quality touring theatre and music companies. It then provides a menu of options from which each village promoter can select.

"It's about giving something special," says co-ordinator Sian Allen, who has been with the government-funded operation from day one.

Passionate about what she does, she admits that the organisation still faces some stumbling blocks - mainly with audience perception.

"Being an organisation, not an edifice, makes it a bit difficult for people to get a grasp of us," she says. "We work with volunteers and would not function without local enthusiasm and commitment."

Three years ago Arts Alive spawned Flicks In The Sticks, which has - in some ways - become more famous than its parent.

Run by her partner, Ian Kerry, Flicks has met with a great response in the county. "It seemed to catch people's imagination," he says.

Appealing to both young audiences, who are lacking transport, and the elderly, who may not like driving at night, Flicks brings top quality movies to village halls throughout the region.

Classics, blockbusters and great British movies are all on offer. Some promoters will literally leave it up to the audience by displaying lists of film options in local shops and post offices.

"It's about access and affordability," Sian says. Flicks reaches 65 venues across Shropshire and Herefordshire.

"There's still a whole area of Hereford that I'd like to get films going to," says Ian.

According to Sian: "Every promoter has a different perspective and some are prepared to be more risky with programming than others".

With most shows costing £12 for a family ticket, it's a great way for people to experience a fun night out for, relatively, little cost.

"People have the idea that arts cost a lot of money for the hoi polloi," Sian says. "What we do is a great counterbalance to that."

One of the most popular acts in the current programme, The Old Rope String Band, went down a storm at the newest addition to the Arts Alive circuit, Almeley Village Hall.

"A sell-out performance brought people together in the village and raised valuable funds for the village hall," said village hall chairman Rupert Button.

"Quite a few farmers came, which is good because farming as a way of life can be quite isolated, and people are asking when the next event will be. We'll have a drama next year - and what a drama it'll be!

"It's a great government initiative to bring communities together and get people out of their homes."

Anyone who would like details of the shows Arts Alive promote can ring for a free copy of the brochure on 01588 620883, or check out the website on artsalive.co.uk