Community Arts

Artform News

8th December 2009
Community Choir launch 13 track CD

26th November 2009
2009 Traveller Focus Week (30th November - 4th December 2009)

Artform Definition

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is one of the key funders of community arts practice in Northern Ireland. Since 1972 we have supported the development of the sector through exchequer funding and from 1994 through Lottery funds.

Community Arts provide opportunities for communities and individuals to develop skills as artists, as well as opportunities for artists to explore ways of transferring those skills.

Through its process, community arts maximises access, participation, authorship and ownership in collective arts practice.

The Council aims to sustain existing levels of excellence in community arts while encouraging new growth.

Current initiatives

• Re-Imaging Communities is a new initiative that helps communities to replace aggressive, sectarian images with art. Communities are encouraged to apply for funding and work with professional artists to replace existing paramilitary murals and other items with more positive imagery.

• We fund a wide range of activities, through revenue and lottery resources which are aimed at

• Supporting and developing community arts
• Raising awareness
• Promoting inter-cultural and cross community tolerance and respect.

• The Arts Council invites applications to its Support for the Individual Artist Programme from community artists seeking to develop their individual practice.
  
  
  

Publications and Information


Artform Policy Document (PDF)

Audiences NI - ‘Barriers to Access to the Arts and to Intercultural Arts Engagement as Experienced by the Chinese and Indian Communities in NI’ (June 2007) ; John Edmund, Maureen Macken, Chris Palmer (PDF)

Third Sector Strategy for Communities and Local Government, Discussion Paper
June 2007 (PDF)

2009 Traveller Focus Week. Cultural diversity and the arts

Contact Us

Further information on any of the Council’s funding programmes and/or its strategic interests in Community Arts may be obtained from:

Joan Dempster / Christabel Williamson
Arts Development Officer (Community Arts and Social Inclusion)
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
MacNeice House
77 Malone Road
Belfast. BT9 6AQ
Tel: 028 9038 5269 / 028 9038 5277
Email: jdempster@artscouncil-ni.org / cwilliamson@artscouncil-ni.org

Relevant Links

Community Arts Forum

Council for Voluntary Action

Council for Ethnic Minorities

New Belfast Community Arts Initiative

Community Arts Network