Twinbrook Community Life Celebrated Across Belfast

22/07/2008

A new mosaic wall feature was unveiled at St. Luke’s Family Centre, Twinbrook (22 July), reflecting the community life in Belfast, brightening up the area and making it more attractive to the local community. £12,901.00, part of the Arts Council’s £3 million Re-imaging Communities Programme (on behalf of the Shared Communities Consortium), was awarded to St. Luke’s Family Centre for ‘Cara House Community Smile Project’ in December 2007. The mosaic was developed through a series of cross-community workshops with Ballymac's Friendship women's group from East Belfast, along with four primary schools, a group for young people and one supporting people with disabilities from the Twinbrook area.

Jacqueline Witherow, Community Development Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland,
with members of the Twinbrook Community unveil a new mosaic as part of the 'Cara House Community Smile Project'

Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council, and Chair of the Shared Communities Consortium, said, “Art has a key role to play in promoting community cohesion. Re-imaging is not always an easy process given the particular issues facing some communities. This project enabled a wide range of people, from a variety of backgrounds, to not only work and meet together, but also to become involved and enjoy the arts. A number of artists were involved in this work, promoting the significance of art and putting it at the heart of the community. The mosaic and its development have provided an opportunity for the Re-Imaging Communities Programme to support the visionary local people, and those from across Belfast, as they take steps to provide a more welcoming environment and give all the participants something to feel proud of.”

Describing the work Fiona Diver, St Luke’s Family Centre Co-ordinator said "This project has been a fantastic opportunity for the Family Centre and the community as a whole. Over 150 people from all ages and abilities have been involved in the design and construction of a piece of permanent artwork, and we have worked with many people from the local community and cross community also. We are very hopeful that today's launch is not just about the end of this project, but about the beginning of more community art activities through St Luke's Family Centre, and that the community will enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed working on it."