'Festival City' Celebrates 'Peace' Funds

Belfast is set to cement its reputation as a 'City of Festivals', thanks to a £225,000 Peace III funding boost.

Belfast City Council is inviting applications from Belfast-based organisations with a track record in delivering high quality, large scale cultural festivals - with an audience reach of at least 10,000 people - to deliver a festival between 1 June 2010 and 30 June 2011.

Proposals must outline how they will reinforce progress towards a peaceful society, promote reconciliation and act as a catalyst for reducing sectarianism and racism.

Funding is available to groups and organisations for proposals which will help develop shared cultural space in Belfast and which will enhance the sharing and community cohesion element of existing festivals, or support the establishment of new community based festivals representing new cultural identities in the city.

The maximum amount of funding available to each organisation is £25,000.

Successful applicants will also be expected to contribute to the development of a framework document on enhancing community cohesion and shared space elements of festivals activity in Belfast, led by the city's Festivals Forum.

The funding is designed to tackle sectarian and racist attitudes through the development of shared cultural space in the city, and is a key part of the Belfast Peace and Reconciliation Plan, funded by the Peace and Reconciliation Programme for Northern Ireland and the border counties of the Republic of Ireland (PEACE III).

The programme is a distinctive European Union Structural Funds Programme aimed at reinforcing progress towards a peaceful and stable society and promoting reconciliation.

Belfast City Council's Good Relations Partnership is managing and administering the funding available to Belfast through the Peace III Programme.

The Peace III Part B application form and Peace III Guidance Notes can be downloaded from the Belfast City Council website, at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/funding

The closing date for receipt of signed hard copy applications is 12 noon on Thursday 1 April.

There will be an information session on Tuesday 16 March, from 10am - 12.30pm, in the Grosvenor Hall, Glengall Street, which will give details on the application criteria and process and answer any questions applicants may have.

To reserve a place, e-mail culture@belfastcity.gov.uk or call 9091 8734 by Friday 12 March.

Interested organisations must complete the first part of their application online at www.eugrants.org

(BMcC/CD)