Queen’s unveil £2m arts investment

Queen's University has today unveiled a major new drama facility - the result of a £2 million investment in the arts department.

The new Drama and Film Centre at Queen's, which has just opened its doors to drama and film studies students, will also be the home of Queen's Film Theatre.

The new facility, which includes a studio theatre and two-screen cinema, sits alongside a new vision for culture and the arts at Queen's which has been underwritten by a £500,000 package.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerry McCormac said: "Queen's is a major player in the cultural life of Northern Ireland. Advocacy of the arts plays a central role in its academic provision, and it is one of the most important ways we have of giving something back to the community we serve.

"This new facility will help unleash the true potential of our programmes in drama and film - which have proved enormously popular with students, it finally gives QFT a home which does justice work as one of the best regarded regional film centres in the UK and Ireland, and it adds to Belfast's portfolio of performance spaces."

The new QFT is part of a new Culture and Arts Division at Queen's, headed by Stella Hall, who retains her role as artistic director of Belfast Festival at Queen's.

Professor McCormac said the new division would strengthen the arts overall by making it easier to have an integrated approach operational resources supporting the unique artistic missions of Belfast Festival at Queen's, QFT and the Naughton Gallery.

It would also allow the arts to build on existing strong links with academics in areas such as music, drama, film, literature and history of art.

The first public screenings at the new QFT will take place on Friday 22 October as part of this year's Belfast Festival at Queen's.

(MB/GMCG)