25 years of north-south liaison in the arts The Chairman and Council of An Chomhairle Ealaíon joined the Arts Council of Northern Ireland in an historic joint celebration to mark the 25th anniversary of island-wide co-operation on Thursday, 8th November in Belfast City Hall. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland also revealed the names of FOUR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS who have been awarded £10,000 under the new Major Individual Awards Programme. RITA DUFFY BRIAN IRVINE SUSAN MacWILLIAM COLIN TEEVAN The Arts Council of Northern Ireland welcomes the opportunity to join the year-long celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of An Chomhairle Ealaíon. A reception for the occasion began at 6.30pm in the Banqueting Hall of Belfast City Hall and as attended also by representatives of more than 100 organisations which have benefited from joint north-south funding over the last 50 years including the Abbey Theatre and Aspects Festival of Irish Writing. In the afternoon, both Councils sat in joint working session in the Linen Hall Library to discuss several key areas which have far-reaching implications for the arts island-wide for the next five years. Among these were be the present condition and future provision of auditoria in Ireland, the future of opera, initiatives in dance, joint research, north-south touring and joint funding, international promotions and openness and transparency in arts funding. Members of An Chomhairle Ealaíon in attendance included Mary Brady, Maud Cotter, Noel Crowley, Clare Duignan, Brendan Flynn, Carlo Gébler, Mr T V Honan, Proinsias Mac Aonghusa, Dr Thomas Mitchell, Patrick Murphy (Chairman), Siobhán Ní Éanaigh, Ms Máire Ní Riain, Séamus Ó Cinnéide, Ms Una Ó Murchú, Emer O’Kelly and Patrick Sutton. They were joined by Patricia Quinn, Director. Members of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland in attendance were Maureen Armstrong, David Boyd, Martin Bradley, Maurna Crozier, Ronnie Dunn, Tess Hurson, David Hyndman, Judith Jordan, James Kerr, Brian McClelland, Ms Gerri Moriarty, Eilís O Baoill (Vice-Chair), Aidan Shortt, Brian Walker (Chairman) and Margaret Yeomans. They were accompanied by Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive. Special guests included Dr Aideen McGinley, Permanent Secretary at DCAL, and Cllr Nelson McCausland, chair of the Arts Sub-Committee, Belfast City Council. for more information contact Damian Smyth, Arts Council (028) 90385200 |
