Arts Council of Northern Ireland

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Arts Council of Northern Ireland, MacNeice House, 77 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 6AQ, T: (028) 9038 5200 - W: www.artscouncil-ni.org

This is the first edition of Positive Images, published by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Within this newsletter, you will meet the team, get information on the programme, find out about some of the projects and learn how communities are engaging with the programme to improve community relations.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMMEThe Building Peace through the Arts – Re-Imaging Communities programme is all about empowering people throughout Northern Ireland and the Border Region of the Republic to tackle sectarianism and racism.

By engaging communities in the exploration of themes which positively reflect themselves and their areas, the programme gives local people the opportunity to create pieces of public artwork that promote tolerance and understanding.

Funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the European Union’s PEACE III Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body and the International Fund for Ireland, the programme has a total budget of £3.125m. 22 public art projects in Antrim, Armagh, Belfast, Cavan, Down, Derry, Monaghan and Tyrone have already received funding to facilitate community consultation.

PICTURED AT THE LAUNCH OF THE PROGRAMME ARE DR ADRIAN JOHNSTON, INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR IRELAND; ROISIN MCDONOUGH, ARTS COUNCIL OF NORTHERN IRELAND; DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER MARTIN MCGUINNESS AND PAT COLGAN, SPECIAL EU PROGRAMMES BODY.

POSITIVE IMAGES BUILDING PEACE THROUGH THE ARTS – RE-IMAGING COMMUNITIES NEWSLETTER WINTER 2013

PROJECTS IN FOCUS

BLACKWATER REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP

Following initial funding of £10,164 from the Building Peace through the Arts – Re-Imaging Communities programme, the Blackwater Regional Partnership have now appointed their artist facilitator and engagement with local community groups in Caledon, Middletown and Monaghan will begin in December and January 2014.

A shared heritage of the Blackwater River will form the focus of a series of artworks that will connect diverse communities from both sides of the border.

LARNE FACTORY COMMUNITY FORUM

Factory Community Forum in Larne, Co Antrim has big ideas for the development of a neutral supportive space that will promote the importance of education in enhancing life chances for young people.

The community group wants their arts project, which has received initial funding of £4,150 from the Building Peace programme, to address the problems associated with on-going graffiti of a sectarian and threatening nature on a wall which sits between three local schools and plans to draw inspiration from William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’..

Arts Council of Northern IrelandArts Council of Northern Ireland, MacNeice House, 77 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 6AQ, T: (028) 9038 5200 - W: www.artscouncil-ni.org

Arts Council of Northern IrelandArts Council of Northern Ireland, MacNeice House, 77 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 6AQ, T: (028) 9038 5200 - W: www.artscouncil-ni.org

Top of the Hill in Derry~Londonderry recently won the Community Arts Initiative Award at the 11th Annual Co-operation Ireland and IPB Pride of Place Competition.

The accolade is a result of their Re-Imaging Communities project in which the community challenged sectarianism and transformed their estate into a more shared and welcoming space for all. The project involved the removal of territorial markings and flags and the installation of a series of bold new sculptures at Top of the Hill with real-life Derry teens the inspiration behind the artwork.

Created by Derry artist Locky Morris, and entitled “Shortcuts”, the four metal figures are situated on a green area that is used by the local community as a short cut into town and there are a number of footfall paths created on the grass.

“CLEARLY WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE WON THIS AWARD – IT MEANS EVERYTHING TO US AT TOP OF THE HILL. NOT ONLY DID THE RE-IMAGING FUNDING FACILITATE ‘SHORTCUTS’ BUT IT HAS BEEN THE CATALYST FOR

OTHER COMMUNITY INITIATIVES WHILE ALSO ENABLING US TO SECURE VITAL ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE AREA.” GERALDINE DOHERTY, TOP OF THE HILL COMMUNITY FORUM.

AUGHNACLOY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

Aughnacloy Development Association in Co Tyrone has secured funding (£4,710) for community consultation with a view to developing a piece of public art that reflects Aughnacloy’s rich culture and history while addressing sectarianism and racism.

Local resident and experienced artist, Gwen Stevenson, has been facilitating a series of creative peace-building workshops and engaging with key groups, individuals, local school children, young people and older people to investigate potential themes for the artwork and site selection. The outcome will inform the development of a brief for the public artwork.

PICTURED WITH ARTIST GWEN STEVENSON ARE MEMBERS OF SPRING CHICKENS, A CROSS-COMMUNITY AND CROSS-BORDER OLDER PEOPLES GROUP.

“THROUGH EXTENSIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN AUGHNACLOY, WE NOW HAVE SEVERAL THEMES FOR CONSIDERATION, ONE OF WHICH WILL INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BRIEF FOR THE PUBLIC ARTWORK. IT’S BEEN AN EXCITING PROCESS AND I’M DELIGHTED THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.” GWEN STEVENSON, ARTIST AND FACILITATOR.

PICTURED ARE LOCAL SCHOOLCHILDREN CASSIE DARNBOROUGH, COLE MCCONNELL AND SARAH THOMPSON.

“THIS FUNDING WILL ENABLE US TO FACILITATE ENGAGEMENT WITH THREE LOCAL SCHOOLS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SHARED SPACE. WE WANT TO CREATE AN AREA FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY WHILE RECOGNISING THE VITAL ROLE PLAYED BY EDUCATION IN CREATING NEW AND EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN LARNE. WE WANT THEM TO BE INSPIRED! IT IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR US AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP AN ART PROJECT OF WHICH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE CAN BE RIGHTFULLY PROUD.” GARETH MCCONNELL, YOUTH CO-ORDINATOR AT LARNE FACTORY COMMUNITY FORUM.

PICTURED ARE COUNCILLOR JOY ROLLSTON, CHAIR OF THE BLACKWATER PARTNERSHIP AND ANN WARD, ARTS COUNCIL OF NORTHERN IRELAND

“WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE RECEIVED THIS FUNDING AND PLAN TO USE IT TO HELP FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN AND BETWEEN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES CULMINATING IN THE CREATION OF THREE PIECES OF PUBLIC ARTWORK IN CALEDON, COUNTY TYRONE; MIDDLETOWN,

COUNTY ARMAGH; AND MONAGHAN. IT IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR US AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO PROMOTE A SHARED SOCIETY AND A LASTING LEGACY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.” COUNCILLOR JOY ROLLSTON, CHAIR OF THE BLACKWATER PARTNERSHIP.

The following are examples of current or recent projects run under the scheme. To discuss your proposal please contact a memberof the team (our details are on the back page).

CONGRATULATIONS TOP OF THE HILL!

MEET THE TEAM

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS

SEAN KEENANProgramme Manager. E: skeenan@artscouncil-ni.org T: 028 9038 5273

DAVID GILLIANDCommunity Development Officer E: dgilliland@artscouncil-ni.org T: 028 9038 5270

ANN WARDCommunity Development Officer E: award@artscouncil-ni.org T: 028 9038 5266

MARLYN BECKSupport Officer E: mabeck@artscouncil-ni.org T: 028 9038 5228

Building Peace through the Arts projects will require the involvement of artists at separate and distinct stages.

1. Artist / facilitators will be appointed to lead the local consultation / creative engagement process and produce a report which will inform the development of a brief for the public artwork.

2. Artists will respond to briefs prepared by the project promoters and compete to have their designs commissioned.

Artists will be invited to become involved in projects across Northern Ireland and the Border Region of the Republic, opportunities will be advertised on the Arts Council’s website www.artscouncil-ni.org

CAN WE HELP YOU?Are you a Community or Voluntary Group or Local Authority?

Do you want to tackle sectarianism or racism in your area?

Building Peace through the Arts Re-Imaging Communities Programme.

We can help your organisation improve community relations by engaging local people in creating a piece of public art.

TRANSFORMATION

UP TO 5K

AVAILABLE

FOR STAGE 1

ENGAGEMENT

Contact the Arts Council of Northern Ireland on 028 9038 5200 / 048 9038 5200 (RoI) To find out more: www.artscouncil-ni.org

Upon completion of Stage 1 your organisation can apply for funding for Stage 2, to produce, install & launch the artwork.

UP TO 50K

AVAILABLE

FOR STAGE 2

TRANSFORMATION

We’ll support successful applicants through each step of the Stage 1 process and help you to...

COMMUNITY ENGAGMENT

Establish a steering panel to manage the

project

Recruit artists/facilitators to

engage the community and develop themes for the artwork

Prepare an artist’s brief and invite responses

Shortlist, interview and

select artists to develop

designs for the piece

Choose the winning design.

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