Arts Council Helps protect and develop Crescent Art Centre

01/09/2008

Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister, Gregory Campbell, MP MLA, today (1 September) announced the start of the Crescent Arts refurbishment project.   The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is also funding this project, to the tune of £1,450,000, which will protect, strengthen and develop this iconic Belfast building and the local arts infrastructure.

Explaining the Arts Council’s role in the project, Rosemary Kelly, Chairman of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland added “The Arts Council is making a substantial investment of lottery money in the Crescent Arts Centre, an excellent example of sustainable development, upgrading and improving existing facilities.  This will not only create a vibrant new space, with full accessibility, where people can participate in and enjoy the arts, but will also protect this landmark building.  On completion, this high quality venue will add to the arts infrastructure, support our talented local artists and performers and make a significant contribution to the economic and social development of the area.”

The refurbishment will include a café, workshop accommodation, a new dance studio and gallery space, while the newly developed area will house a large multi-purpose space, with retractable seating.  Also lifts, toilets and changing rooms will be included in the new build, thus delivering a fully accessible and serviced arts centre, without negatively impacting on the status of the original, listed and iconic Belfast building.