Councillors welcome funding for church project

Councillor Cunningham, who sits on the grant panel, explained that the award followed an application for assistance with technical costs, as part of an overall project to restore and refurbish the disused “Old Church” in Cushendun into a Community Arts Centre.

He said: “I am delighted that this group have been rewarded for their vision. The group hope to deliver a Community Arts Centre which will act as a venue for exhibitions, performances, classes and other community arts activities.

“We have such a rich variety of artists and craftspeople in the area and are home to a huge variety of talents such as potters, painters, photographers, sculptors, jewellery designers and furniture makers and much more.  I believe there is still a huge potential for this type of centre to grow by targeting the cultural tourist market and encouraging visitors to visit the Glens to sample art and craft.

“Promoting our local arts and crafts serves also to promote the whole region, and can bring benefits for all year round. Once visitors discover how beautiful our area is and the quality of arts and crafts on offer they will want to keep coming back.

“It is important to mark Moyle out as being somewhere that nurtures and encourages arts and crafts, by doing so we will be sending out the message that it is a great place for artists and crafts makers to earn a livelihood, and the sort of place where young and talented people can build a career.”

“A Community Arts Centre in Cushendun can be a focal point for cultural tourism,” he added.