£22,000 for two Causeway Coast and Glens groups as part of Arts Council National Lottery Project Funding
Older people and people with disabilitiesin the Causeway Coast and Glens area are among the beneficiaries of Arts Council of Northern Ireland funding.
Armstrong Storytelling Trust and Enterprise Causeway have received grants through the Arts Council’s National Lottery Project Funding. This is part of an announcement of over £2million to 73 organisations across Northern Ireland.
With grants ranging between £7,300 to £75,000, the 73 projects will contribute to the growth of arts in the community, improve health and wellbeing, develop creative skills, and allow more people from all backgrounds to enjoy arts experiences.
Armstrong Storytelling Trust has been awarded a £10,000 grant to run activities that strengthen storytelling as a tool for empathy, inclusion and community connection across Northern Ireland.
Liz Weir, Storyteller in Residence, Armstrong Storytelling Trust, said: “The value of the Arts Council’s £10,000 support extends beyond the immediate project, helping to build our sustainability and capacity to continue using storytelling to connect communities and amplify underrepresented voices.”
Also receiving funding in the area is Enterprise Causeway. They have received £12,000 to run a contemporary visual arts and artist development programme based at The Courthouse Bushmills.
The project will deliver artist-led workshops in textiles, ceramics, glass, wood and mixed-media practice for people with disabilities, older people, and rural communities who may experience barriers to arts participation.
Participants will create handcrafted silk blossoms while exploring themes of growth, identity, place and connection, before creating a large-scale Blossom Tree art installation in collaboration with Globe Gallery.
The project will also provide mentoring and professional development opportunities for emerging, rural, and underrepresented artists.
Jayne Taggart, Chief Executive, Enterprise Causeway, said: “We’re delighted to receive this support from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland through National Lottery Project Funding. The funding will enable us to deliver a programme of professional mentoring for makers and artists, alongside creative workshops for the wider community.
“This will build on the creative activity already taking place at The Courthouse, giving people more opportunities to develop skills, share knowledge, make connections and showcase creative work. It will also help us extend participation across the Causeway Coast and Glens and beyond, while continuing to strengthen The Courthouse as a place for creativity, learning and exchange.”