Ilex to take a lead role in £10m rollout

Last week the Minister visited the city to officially announce his successful capital bid in support of Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013.

One of the Department of Finance and Personnel’s stipulations is that £5m must be spent next year and a further £5m spent in 2012/13.

The Minister said Ilex and DSD will direct the funding towards three key areas - vital venues, community infrastructure and physical enhancement/infrastructure. £1m will also be pumped into a number of retail areas in the Waterside and Cityside.

He explained: “The Vital Venues strand will seek to support the development of new venues of strategic importance, which will add to the city’s capacity to deliver major programmes and events.

“Ilex will shortly commission, through an international architectural competition, a demountable pavilion which will provide a main venue setting for 8,000 people.

“The Community Infrastructure strand will be used to enhance and develop cultural venues and services. On Tuesday I announced an open call seeking expressions of interest from Community, Arts and Culture organisations to develop community infrastructure facilities. Adverts have been placed in local papers with application forms available to download from the Ilex website.

“The third strand, Physical Enhancement and Regeneration will be managed by my Department as a means of developing Public Realm and Environmental Improvement works to enhance the urban environment in keeping with the city’s designation as City of Culture 2013.

“Up to £1m of funding will also be earmarked to enhance a number of retail areas on both the Cityside and Waterside.”

DfP have stipulated that the £10m capital funding must be spent equally in 2011/12 and 2012/13 and cannot be transferred from one year to another.

The Minister said it was essential that organisations in their application demonstrated how and when funding will be spent.

“Only when this information is available will I be able to say with certainty what the total amount of funding will be for community, voluntary and arts organisations,” he stated.

The projects must benefit everyone in the city regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual preference. “Particular attention will be paid to people with disabilities, children and young people and citizens from the top 20 per cent lowest income housing areas,” he stated.