Funding lifeline for community arts

Coleraine Borough Arts Committee is particularly keen to extend a helping hand to those working with disadvantaged or marginalised groups in the borough, who may be keen to put a dash of cultural colour into their activities.

The Committee has a long history of assisting with small grants for creative arts activities. Over the years they have provided thousands of pounds to individual artists and community organisations throughout the borough.

This money – usually in the form of small grants from £50 to several hundred pounds – has been crucial to get artistic events and activities moving in the community. The support has assisted in everything from creative writing and film making to, creative crafts, drama, publishing, photography, sound recording, arts education, art materials - and more.

The committee is particularly keen to hear from organisations in the community who may not have applied in the past, and who are working with disadvantaged groups.

The committee chairman Professor Harry McMahon explains: “The committee has a long history of supporting arts-related activity of all kinds. It’s important that we support all sections of the borough, and if there are individuals or organisations working with community groups that meet that description, we’d be very keen to hear from them. It’s not an enormous pot of gold, but often a small award can make a big difference to someone trying to get an artistic project off the ground.”

There are two deadlines for submissions – the next is coming up on March 1st. Copies of the application form are available from reception at Flowerfield Arts Centre. Call the reception staff on (028) 7083 1400 for details.

You can also download a copy of the form from the Flowerfield website on www.flowerfield.org. Or you can drop the staff at Flowerfield Arts Centre an e-mail on [email protected] and they’ll be happy to send you a copy of the form, which comes complete with some guidance notes to help with the application process.