Belfast Council invests in arts sector

Belfast City Council is to invest over £86,000 in 25 of the city’s arts and heritage organisations through its Culture and Arts Project Grant Scheme.

This follows an investment of almost £658,000 in 37 of Belfast’s venues, theatre companies and galleries last month through the scheme.

A host of activity from music classes to theatre, photography, public art, celebrations of industrial and built heritage will be taking place throughout the city over the coming months, thanks to financial assistance from the Council’s Development (Arts) Sub-Committee.

Commenting on the investment, Councillor Nelson McCausland, Chairman of the Development (Arts) Sub-Committee said: “Belfast City Council is delighted to see the rich diversity of cultural activity that is taking place across the city. We’re investing in culture because we know that it has the power to improve quality of life – it also makes a very valuable contribution to the fabric of our city – adding positive energy to our streets, expressing what is special about Belfast, and helping us to understand ourselves and others.”

The Culture and Arts Project Grant Scheme is designed to assist arts and heritage events, projects or activities which take place in Belfast and help to achieve the Development Committee’s objectives of ensuring that Belfast is an attractive and welcoming city as well as providing activity to enhance quality of life.

Emphasis is also placed on projects which allow communities to use the arts and heritage as a means of expressing themselves.

Competition for funding was particularly high, with 83 applications requesting a total of £748,564 and grant values ranging from £1,000 to £6,000.

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