New Arts Facility to drive urban regeneration of Belfast City Centre 

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Culture, Arts & Leisure Minister, David Hanson today announced a new £9.2m arts centre for Belfast in the Cathedral Quarter. The Old Museum Arts Centre (OMAC) is to take up home in the new facility, complete with a 350-seat theatre, a 150-seat studio, as well as purpose-built exhibition and workshop space.

Left to right: Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Anne McReynolds, Director of the Old Museum Arts Centre, Right Honourable David Hanson MP, Minister for Culture, Arts & Leisure and Margaret McKee, Chair of the Old Museum Arts Centre

Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland said,

“We have lobbied for some time now for a new flagship arts centre in Belfast, so we are delighted to be able to support the Old Museum Arts Centre as they create a purpose-built performing arts venue right at the heart of the city. The new venue will boost the artistic and social regeneration of the Cathedral Quarter and will secure this area’s fast growing reputation as the cultural hub of the city”.

“We set aside £4.25 million to support the Old Museum Arts Centre (OMAC) in the creation of the new facility. The Minister’s welcome announcement today of a further commitment of £4 million, matches the Arts Council’s initial contribution and makes the vision an achievable goal. Laganside’s generous gifting of the site leaves a relatively small funding gap to be filled from other sources”.

Left to right: Anne McReynolds, Director of the Old Museum Arts Centre, Right Honourable David Hanson MP, Minister for Culture, Arts & Leisure, Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

The announcement follows an investigation into the need for a city centre arts facility. A leading-edge performance space in the Cathedral Quarter area is thought to be necessary for the economic viability of the larger, mixed-use development scheme which will be built there.

Ms McDonough explained,

“A twenty-first-century arts centre is an essential ingredient to a vibrant, cultural energy in Belfast. OMAC’s new centre will ensure arts and culture are a driving force for the urban regeneration of the area, keeping the mixed-use development scheme alive both day and night”.

Today’s announcement by the Arts Council is part of its strategy to enhance theatre provision in Belfast city. The Arts Council has already allocated £5m to improving facilities at the Grand Opera House, the Lyric Theatre and the Crescent Arts Centre.