Double Arts honours!

With thousands of entries to the Awards, the Partnership were shortlisted to the final seven in the All- Ireland category.

They have been awarded Runners Up for the All Ireland Award – judged by a panel of arts experts, beating shortlisted organisations from Galway, Derry/Londonderry, Belfast and Dublin, and were judged a close runner up to the final winners – a fabulous Arts Festival in Dublin.

They’re now looking froward to the Winners Reception, which will be held in London, for the winning groups from all over the UK & Ireland. Judging Panel Chair & Chief Executive of Voluntary Arts UK, Robin Simpson said the judgeds had been “bowled over by the quality and diversity of entries from all over the UK & Ireland”.

“This proves once again that there are so many excellent and innovative Arts groups doing great things in their communities,” he said.

These Awards now categorise Ballymena Arts Partnership as an example of Good Practice in Voluntary Arts and will enable the group to use the Epic Awards hallmark The group will also receive publicity, training and mentoring through the national UK & Ireland Voluntary Arts network and will also represent Ireland at future Voluntary Arts events

Ballymena Arts Partnership is a group of 15 local arts activists, Councillors and Council Officers with a remit to further the advancement of Arts & Culture in the Borough and support local arts activity.

A spokesperson said: “Ballymena Arts Partnership are thrilled with this accolade and hope to continue to build on their success for the benefit of all the citizens of the Borough...and beyond”.

Urged on from their formation in May 2010 with funding and management from Ballymena Borough Council and local business supporters, the new Ballymena Arts Partnership has since unlocked a series of new opportunities for new audiences.

They have established a programme of audience development schemes, showcase platforms for young emerging artists, new social media initiatives and Arts Bursary Programmes

And with supporters such as Universal Pictures UK, Waterstones Books Ireland, Q Network Radio and Cinemagic, Ballymena Arts Partnership have big ideas for the future. They are now focused on working together for the benefit of all our citizens and have established a range of new initiatives, from a new Real Music Club attracting performers from all over the world and providing showcase opportunities for young local musicians

The Partnership have opened a new Cinema at The Braid Arts Centre – Film@theBraid, and have created many special enterprises including Universal Pictures UK offering the Cinema Club the Rights to screen their new Blu Ray Movie releases

Among the business partnerships, Waterstone’s Books Ireland have joined in promoting Ballymena Arts Partnership to its customers and also provided special guest speakers to attend events

A new Comedy Club has been established with the best in local and national stand-up comedy and a platform for new talent