Our city of culture

The initiative, titled ‘Our City of Culture’, is a collaboration between Voluntary Arts Ireland and the Verbal Arts Centre, with both organisations offering amateur artists and voluntary groups the opportunity to help celebrate Londonderry’s designation as UK City of Culture in 2013 by putting on special events in the Verbal Arts Centre during the year.

Launching the initiative Kevin Murphy, Chief Officer of Voluntary Arts Ireland, said: “Our City of Culture is a fantastic opportunity for amateur groups to get involved in 2013 and to showcase to the wider public what it is they do. Much of the amateur arts activity that currently happens in the city does so behind closed doors, this initiative will shine a spotlight on local arts activities, giving them a much needed platform to play their part in the City of Culture celebrations. We are very thankful to the Verbal Arts Centre for opening their doors and we look forward to seeing what groups will come up with.”

Meanwhile, James Kerr, Director of the Verbal Arts Centre, said: “We’re tremendously excited to be involved in this initiative. 2013 is the start of a new chapter for the city, it will be a year of new stories and new discoveries and we want to ensure that the amateur arts are at the heart of the celebrations with the opportunity to tell their story to the world.”

According to Kevin and James, this year promises to be a very special year for the amateur artist especially in Londonderry, but also across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Voluntary Arts Ireland is working with a range of partners to create a series of campaigns under the banner ‘Our City of Culture’ that will involve amateur artists from across the UK and Ireland in the 2013 celebrations.

If you or your group would like to get involved email [email protected] or call the Voluntary Arts Ireland offices on 028 7127 2501. Groups and individuals are urged to get ideas in soon as spaces are limited.