Minister emphasises that 'Culture Can'

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Angela Smith has today emphasised how innovative cultural, arts and leisure activities can help to tackle many everyday problems in society.

The Minister was speaking during a visit to Belfast Community Circus School where she launched 'Culture Can’. This package, a document and a CD-ROM, is being distributed to local authorities across Northern Ireland, as well as to central Government, to help them find alternative ways of addressing issues such as anti-social behaviour, regeneration, poor health and low educational attainment.

The Minister said: “Cultural, arts and leisure activities are not optional extras in 21st century society - they should be fitted as standard. They can help to address many problems in the community which have not responded effectively to more traditional methods and also contribute so much to the quality of life.

“Although ‘Culture Can’ is aimed at anyone interested in finding new solutions to the needs of their community, it is especially relevant to those working in central and local Government. This document, and its accompanying CD-Rom, contains around 100 case studies which are packed full of ideas for those working at the coal face.

The Minister pointed out that the arts were particularly important in the delivery of such a service to the community and said that the Belfast Community Circus School was an appropriate venue at which to launch the document.

(MB)