'Fantastic' community engagement over mural

THE engagement of the Lincoln Courts community in the production of brand new work of art to replace a UDA mural was "fantastic", the Arts Council Chief Executive has told politicians at Stormont.

Chief Executive Rosn McDonough was giving evidence to the Stormont Arts Committee on the topic of the Annual Support for Organisations Programme (ASOP).

During the hearing it was put to her that practitioners of the Re-imaging Communities programme are concerned about funding cuts to that programme and that it makes a huge difference to communties.

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The Arts Council chief referred to the eight foot steel sculpture recently unveiled in Lincoln Courts to provide a new shared space for local people following the removal of a paramilitary mural and painted kerb stones.

The regeneration project was led by Lincoln Courts Youth and Community Association, Ulster Political Research Group, and the Conflict Transformation Initiative.

She said: "I agree absolutely, and the Arts Council has been vigorously asking for support for that programme from across the party political and ministerial spectrum.

"I was in the Lincoln Courts area of the Derry City Council district yesterday (April 21) looking at where a fantastic piece of public sculpture had been created and a paramilitary mural taken down.

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"The whole community turned out, and in my experience, wherever I go the entire community turns out for the unveiling of art work with which they have been involved, and of which they feel ownership and are hugely proud.

"Such engagement with an artist is just fantastic. The Arts Council has made an application under Peace III. We have been shortlisted, and an economic appraisal is being done.

"We have also been talking to the International Fund for Ireland to see whether it will make a contribution. I am sure that when people at the political and ministerial level see me coming to talk about Re-imaging Communities and ask for extra resources, they probably get a bit fed up.

"It is a wonderful programme, and we really do not want to lose it because it touches people at a moment in their lives and in the life of their community, which is a very powerful engagement for them creatively in the arts."

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