Arts Council Of Northern Ireland

Calling all aspiring writers! The John O'Connor Writing School is accepting entries for their 2018 Short Story Competition. The prize-winner will be awarded a bursary to attend the John O’Connor Writing School and Literary Arts Festival which will be held in Armagh from 1-4 November, plus a cash prize of £250. Deadline for entries is 12 noon on 28 August
Full details and online entry form available from www.thejohnoconnorwritingschool.com/short -story-competition
The John O’Connor Writing Schools is supported by the Arts Council’s #NationalLottery funds. National Lottery Good Causes

Millennium Court Arts Centre in Portadown is exhibiting a selection of banners created especially for the Belfast Processions 2018 event alongside suffragette items from the museum services dating back to the time of the suffragette movement. The exhibition is now open and will continue until 25 July.

R-Space at The Linen Rooms Lisburn has launched Northern Ireland’s largest International linen festival. The three-month festival from 1 August – 31 October celebrates the past, present and future of linen with a packed programme featuring local and international artists. Supported by the Arts Council’s #NationalLottery fund.
Linen Biennale NI Heritage Lottery Fund (NI) British Council Northern Ireland Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council National Lottery Good Causes Island-Arts Centre Visit Lisburn Castlereagh

📆 Our office will be closed on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 July and will reopen at 9am on Monday 16 July.

Calling all explorers and artists! Sticky Fingers Arts is hosting a FREE week-long arts, drama, historical and film making project for 10-16 year olds from Monday 16 July in Downpatrick.
Participants will step back in time to explore hidden treasures of the past, where they can explore and experiment, creating their own treasures to travel through time. Book online - www.stickyfingersarts.co.uk/step-in-time
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Down Arts Centre Friends of Down County Museum The Saint Patrick Centre

Following a highly successful first year, the Ulster Orchestra and Ulster Youth Choir are inviting young musicians to apply for this year’s Professional Experience Scheme (PES).
Successful applicants will receive support and feedback from members of the Ulster Orchestra, develop skills in auditioning, orchestral section playing, and also observe and participate in one of the UO’s Learning and Community Engagement projects.
Closing date for applications is Monday 6 August. For more information and eligibility, visit https://www.ulsterorchestra.org.uk/…/ul ster-orchestra-pro…/…

Damian Smyth, Head of Literature, picks some of the best of the recent reads by local writers over on our blog. Perfect for that upcoming holiday or a relaxing day in the sun 📖☀️

Calling all artists 📢 Our Support for the Individual Artists Programme (SIAP) is now open. Applications must be submitted before 4pm on Thursday 16 August.Full information about the programme is available on our website artscouncil-ni.org/funding/scheme/SIAP

Colin Dardis unveiled his new poem, Confidence, at the NHS 70th Anniversary celebrations at Stormont last week. The poem was commissioned by The Northern Ireland Confederation of Health and Social Services with support from the Arts Council’s #NationalLottery funds. #NHS70

Expressions of interest for our Young People and Wellbeing Arts Programme, supported by the Public Health Agency, must be submitted before 4pm tomorrow, Tuesday 10 July. For more information visit http://artscouncil-ni.org/…/young-peopl e-wellbeing-arts-pro…

More inspiring stories about the impact #nationallottery players make to the good causes in Northern Ireland https://youtu.be/sl7_Ou8B_TY

Students from Ballytrea Primary School (Stewartstown), Windmill Integrated Primary School (Dungannon), St Joseph’s Primary School (Killennan) and St Patrick’s Primary (Ardboe) have been bringing main heritage sites in Mid Ulster to life in a creative animation project with the Nerve Centre.
The project is supported by Mid Ulster District Council and through the Arts Council’s Challenge Fund #NationalLottery.

Join RESIST this Saturday 7 July at the Black Box Belfast for a one-day event exploring experimental music through dialogues and performances. The day will kick off with free talks and workshops from 1pm – 7pm, followed by a live music concert at 8pm. Curated by former SIAP recipient, Koichi

39 arts organisations across Northern Ireland are set to benefit from almost £1 million of Arts Council of Northern Ireland #NationalLottery funding, to bring a series of high-quality arts projects to people across the region.

Poet, Colin Dardis, unveils new poem to mark NHS 70th Anniversary celebrations in Northern Ireland, commissioned by The Northern Ireland Confederation of Health and Social Services and supported by the Arts Council’s #NationalLottery funds #NHS70

A host of renowned traditional musicians, including four former winners of the prestigious Gradam Ceoil TG4 awards, will descend upon Belfast in a series of concerts, masterclasses, workshops, talks and sessions for the second Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music, supported through the Arts Council’s #NationalLottery funding.

On Friday we said a very fond farewell to our valued colleague and IT officer, Francis Pill, who departed the Arts Council after 15 years. We all wish Francis all the very best on his next chapter.

Reminder! Visual Artists in Northern Ireland is inviting all visual artists to a Support for the Individual Artists (SIAP) information session tomorrow morning at 10:30am. Following the presentation, there will be an opportunity to discuss your application with our Visual Arts Officer.
Register now ➡️ http://visualartists.org.uk/services/deve lopment/current/…

Check out Arts Ekta’s exhibition on display at The Duncairn until this Thursday 5 July. The Visual Memoir project, supported by our Arts & Older People Programme, encouraged older people to create their own visual memoir from individual memories and stories with artists Jill McKeown and Emma Whitehead.
#NationalLottery National Lottery Good Causes

The Clandeboye festival from 17-25 August will be a celebration of all things from the great musical city of Vienna, offering audiences world-class, international artists and showcasing our most exceptional young musicians, providing them with vital mentorship opportunities.
Supported by the Arts Council's #NationalLottery funding.
Camerata Ireland National Lottery Good Causes

They have supported and helped me so much. With out them I wouldn't be were I am now. Nothing but love for the Arts Council here �

New design business starting up in Belfast...Custom made contemporary maps to remember life's special journeys. Choose your map, design, text and journey for £20 (framed inc p&p)

I think is good thing;that are you doing,I am koshi mensah denyo, from west Africa 🇬🇭, we have art and artist over here....that looking helps and chances ,plz can't we correbeyed with Ghana? Yrs partner koshi

Totally disgusted at the loss of funding to New lodge arts! As a mother of a daughter who has attended there for 5 years, my daughter has had a tough time for a child and the love and support showen by the staff here has been second to none! She has taken part in lots of shows, young youth projects cross community progects to name a few! Cant work out how you come to these decisions when so many other places got hundreds of thousands of pounds!!! Totally unfair! Our children deserve to have this service as much as any other community! #savenewlodgearts

The (so-called) Arts Council has cut 100% funding to New Lodge Arts classes, that provide vital services for young people in North Belfast. For many children in North Belfast working-class families (including mine!), these classes are the only accessible form of art and culture available

I wonder what other projects are funded instead, now. Classes/events in the MAC, Odyssey or W5 that will cost the end user £15-£50 a head possibly? So much for social equality!

Shame on you leaving children without any hobbies. My niece absouletly loved these classes and is absouletly devasted. #savenewlodgearts

My rating reflects the recent disgraceful decision to remove 100% funding from New Lodge Arts. Not having these Arts classes in N. Belfast will leave a huge void and many families will be negatively impacted from the detrimental effects this will have on the development of their children. Shameful decision! #SaveNewLodgeArts

I’m appalled by the scandalous decision to cut funding to New Lodge Arts by 100%!! This decision must be reviewed and overturned for the sake of all the children in the area to whom this funding gave a voice, a song, a dance and an opportunity to express themselves in vivid colour. #dontstealthecolourfromtheirlives

It is an absolute disgrace that you cut the funding in Newlodge Arts by 100% surely it would be better to cut funding on a much smaller scale on every project!!! The amount of cross community work done by Newlodge Arts over the years is amazing, shame on you!!! Once again the projects that most need it are affected, these young people benefit so much from all the classes and other activities!!!

Disgusting to hear you are cutting funds for children on the autistic spectrum in the arts! From experience my son is a different child when he dances and for this to be taken away is not only disgusting on my child but to any child who benefits as a way of helping them express themselves in ways they can't every day!!@ funding needs to be maintained in rural areas too! We don't have access to much facilities and to take it away from children who would benefit most is appalling!

Cutting off 100% funding to New Lodge Arts appears to run contrary to your aims set out in your Strategic Ambition Document, within which you state 'the fundamental issue is that the potential that the arts possess should not be enjoyed only by those who have the benefit of material resources, of educational advantage or of family tradition. The real challenge is to open our minds to the possibility of genuinely opening access to all them before now.' Yet here we find complete funding cuts in an area that needs it most. Is it the case that the arts is only open now to those who can afford it? Do we now have to buy access to privilege in North Belfast? The arts is an essential route to creativity and innovation for all society. Creativity is meant to be a key priority for the government to improve innovation and the economy across all of NI (see Innovation Strategy 2014 & Arts Council NI Strategy). The Arts Council NI, the Department for Culture, Charal Ni Chuilin and Chair Bob Collins need to review this decision. Whilst there is a political vacuum at the moment, this cannot continue to be an excuse to make cuts under the radar, where essential services are needed most.

Can’t believe you have cut funding to an essential arts service of North Belfast that my family use on a regular basis. Yet again a vulnerable community has been left behind!!!



#savenewlodgearts

#northbelfastartsmattertoo

#artsmatterni

Absolutely furious about the decision of 100per cent cut to New Lodge Arts funding. My daughter was in the middle of training in two dance classes at the stage of 4 weeks away from exams which she now cannot complete. A year of hard work wasted for her now. She was devastated yesterday to the point of crying all afternoon. She is 8yrs old. There's little enough in north Belfast for the kids and to strip these classes away without any prior notice is a disgrace. The team at New Lodge Arts worked so hard to provide us with Arts that we normally cannot avail of in this part of the city be it financially or geographically. Shame on you!!! #Savenewlodgearts

Absolutely disgusted at the decision to cut New Lodge Arts 100%. My daughter is heartbroken, she has made so many friends from other areas (cross community). These classes have built her confidence, made her feel good and also great exercise that is important for her health. I just can't get my head around this at all, one of the most deprived areas gets 100% cut just doesn't make sense. My other daughter attended the summer drama school, I just couldn't get over the performance at the end of the week. My daughter got on stage, had a lot of lines. At this stage my daughter was having difficulties in school, I still can't believe how much this has helped her. I was actually crying with happiness at the transformation in a week! Thank you New Lodge Arts, use are truly amazing. SaveNewLodgeArts!

Absolutely disgusted at the decision made to cut funding for North Belfast arts groups in particular New Lodge Arts. My daughter has attended several of the classes on offer for the past few years and has also been involved in the drama summer scheme where the children work together to put on a show at the end of the week. Classes like this have helped my daughter make friends, grow in confidence and develop socially. As always it's the areas and communities that need it most are the ones to lose out. I implore the people in charge of these decisions to take another look at this. We won't let our children be the victims of this. We won't go down without a fight #SaveNewlodgeArts #NorthBelfastartsmattertoo #ArtsMatterNI

They have supported and helped me so much. With out them I wouldn't be were I am now. Nothing but love for the Arts Council here �

New design business starting up in Belfast...Custom made contemporary maps to remember life's special journeys. Choose your map, design, text and journey for £20 (framed inc p&p)

I think is good thing;that are you doing,I am koshi mensah denyo, from west Africa 🇬🇭, we have art and artist over here....that looking helps and chances ,plz can't we correbeyed with Ghana? Yrs partner koshi

Totally disgusted at the loss of funding to New lodge arts! As a mother of a daughter who has attended there for 5 years, my daughter has had a tough time for a child and the love and support showen by the staff here has been second to none! She has taken part in lots of shows, young youth projects cross community progects to name a few! Cant work out how you come to these decisions when so many other places got hundreds of thousands of pounds!!! Totally unfair! Our children deserve to have this service as much as any other community! #savenewlodgearts

The (so-called) Arts Council has cut 100% funding to New Lodge Arts classes, that provide vital services for young people in North Belfast. For many children in North Belfast working-class families (including mine!), these classes are the only accessible form of art and culture available

I wonder what other projects are funded instead, now. Classes/events in the MAC, Odyssey or W5 that will cost the end user £15-£50 a head possibly? So much for social equality!

Shame on you leaving children without any hobbies. My niece absouletly loved these classes and is absouletly devasted. #savenewlodgearts

My rating reflects the recent disgraceful decision to remove 100% funding from New Lodge Arts. Not having these Arts classes in N. Belfast will leave a huge void and many families will be negatively impacted from the detrimental effects this will have on the development of their children. Shameful decision! #SaveNewLodgeArts

I’m appalled by the scandalous decision to cut funding to New Lodge Arts by 100%!! This decision must be reviewed and overturned for the sake of all the children in the area to whom this funding gave a voice, a song, a dance and an opportunity to express themselves in vivid colour. #dontstealthecolourfromtheirlives

It is an absolute disgrace that you cut the funding in Newlodge Arts by 100% surely it would be better to cut funding on a much smaller scale on every project!!! The amount of cross community work done by Newlodge Arts over the years is amazing, shame on you!!! Once again the projects that most need it are affected, these young people benefit so much from all the classes and other activities!!!

Disgusting to hear you are cutting funds for children on the autistic spectrum in the arts! From experience my son is a different child when he dances and for this to be taken away is not only disgusting on my child but to any child who benefits as a way of helping them express themselves in ways they can't every day!!@ funding needs to be maintained in rural areas too! We don't have access to much facilities and to take it away from children who would benefit most is appalling!

Cutting off 100% funding to New Lodge Arts appears to run contrary to your aims set out in your Strategic Ambition Document, within which you state 'the fundamental issue is that the potential that the arts possess should not be enjoyed only by those who have the benefit of material resources, of educational advantage or of family tradition. The real challenge is to open our minds to the possibility of genuinely opening access to all them before now.' Yet here we find complete funding cuts in an area that needs it most. Is it the case that the arts is only open now to those who can afford it? Do we now have to buy access to privilege in North Belfast? The arts is an essential route to creativity and innovation for all society. Creativity is meant to be a key priority for the government to improve innovation and the economy across all of NI (see Innovation Strategy 2014 & Arts Council NI Strategy). The Arts Council NI, the Department for Culture, Charal Ni Chuilin and Chair Bob Collins need to review this decision. Whilst there is a political vacuum at the moment, this cannot continue to be an excuse to make cuts under the radar, where essential services are needed most.

Can’t believe you have cut funding to an essential arts service of North Belfast that my family use on a regular basis. Yet again a vulnerable community has been left behind!!!



#savenewlodgearts

#northbelfastartsmattertoo

#artsmatterni

Absolutely furious about the decision of 100per cent cut to New Lodge Arts funding. My daughter was in the middle of training in two dance classes at the stage of 4 weeks away from exams which she now cannot complete. A year of hard work wasted for her now. She was devastated yesterday to the point of crying all afternoon. She is 8yrs old. There's little enough in north Belfast for the kids and to strip these classes away without any prior notice is a disgrace. The team at New Lodge Arts worked so hard to provide us with Arts that we normally cannot avail of in this part of the city be it financially or geographically. Shame on you!!! #Savenewlodgearts

Absolutely disgusted at the decision to cut New Lodge Arts 100%. My daughter is heartbroken, she has made so many friends from other areas (cross community). These classes have built her confidence, made her feel good and also great exercise that is important for her health. I just can't get my head around this at all, one of the most deprived areas gets 100% cut just doesn't make sense. My other daughter attended the summer drama school, I just couldn't get over the performance at the end of the week. My daughter got on stage, had a lot of lines. At this stage my daughter was having difficulties in school, I still can't believe how much this has helped her. I was actually crying with happiness at the transformation in a week! Thank you New Lodge Arts, use are truly amazing. SaveNewLodgeArts!

Absolutely disgusted at the decision made to cut funding for North Belfast arts groups in particular New Lodge Arts. My daughter has attended several of the classes on offer for the past few years and has also been involved in the drama summer scheme where the children work together to put on a show at the end of the week. Classes like this have helped my daughter make friends, grow in confidence and develop socially. As always it's the areas and communities that need it most are the ones to lose out. I implore the people in charge of these decisions to take another look at this. We won't let our children be the victims of this. We won't go down without a fight #SaveNewlodgeArts #NorthBelfastartsmattertoo #ArtsMatterNI

They have supported and helped me so much. With out them I wouldn't be were I am now. Nothing but love for the Arts Council here �

New design business starting up in Belfast...Custom made contemporary maps to remember life's special journeys. Choose your map, design, text and journey for £20 (framed inc p&p)

I think is good thing;that are you doing,I am koshi mensah denyo, from west Africa 🇬🇭, we have art and artist over here....that looking helps and chances ,plz can't we correbeyed with Ghana? Yrs partner koshi

Totally disgusted at the loss of funding to New lodge arts! As a mother of a daughter who has attended there for 5 years, my daughter has had a tough time for a child and the love and support showen by the staff here has been second to none! She has taken part in lots of shows, young youth projects cross community progects to name a few! Cant work out how you come to these decisions when so many other places got hundreds of thousands of pounds!!! Totally unfair! Our children deserve to have this service as much as any other community! #savenewlodgearts

The (so-called) Arts Council has cut 100% funding to New Lodge Arts classes, that provide vital services for young people in North Belfast. For many children in North Belfast working-class families (including mine!), these classes are the only accessible form of art and culture available

I wonder what other projects are funded instead, now. Classes/events in the MAC, Odyssey or W5 that will cost the end user £15-£50 a head possibly? So much for social equality!

Shame on you leaving children without any hobbies. My niece absouletly loved these classes and is absouletly devasted. #savenewlodgearts

My rating reflects the recent disgraceful decision to remove 100% funding from New Lodge Arts. Not having these Arts classes in N. Belfast will leave a huge void and many families will be negatively impacted from the detrimental effects this will have on the development of their children. Shameful decision! #SaveNewLodgeArts

I’m appalled by the scandalous decision to cut funding to New Lodge Arts by 100%!! This decision must be reviewed and overturned for the sake of all the children in the area to whom this funding gave a voice, a song, a dance and an opportunity to express themselves in vivid colour. #dontstealthecolourfromtheirlives

It is an absolute disgrace that you cut the funding in Newlodge Arts by 100% surely it would be better to cut funding on a much smaller scale on every project!!! The amount of cross community work done by Newlodge Arts over the years is amazing, shame on you!!! Once again the projects that most need it are affected, these young people benefit so much from all the classes and other activities!!!

Disgusting to hear you are cutting funds for children on the autistic spectrum in the arts! From experience my son is a different child when he dances and for this to be taken away is not only disgusting on my child but to any child who benefits as a way of helping them express themselves in ways they can't every day!!@ funding needs to be maintained in rural areas too! We don't have access to much facilities and to take it away from children who would benefit most is appalling!

Cutting off 100% funding to New Lodge Arts appears to run contrary to your aims set out in your Strategic Ambition Document, within which you state 'the fundamental issue is that the potential that the arts possess should not be enjoyed only by those who have the benefit of material resources, of educational advantage or of family tradition. The real challenge is to open our minds to the possibility of genuinely opening access to all them before now.' Yet here we find complete funding cuts in an area that needs it most. Is it the case that the arts is only open now to those who can afford it? Do we now have to buy access to privilege in North Belfast? The arts is an essential route to creativity and innovation for all society. Creativity is meant to be a key priority for the government to improve innovation and the economy across all of NI (see Innovation Strategy 2014 & Arts Council NI Strategy). The Arts Council NI, the Department for Culture, Charal Ni Chuilin and Chair Bob Collins need to review this decision. Whilst there is a political vacuum at the moment, this cannot continue to be an excuse to make cuts under the radar, where essential services are needed most.

Can’t believe you have cut funding to an essential arts service of North Belfast that my family use on a regular basis. Yet again a vulnerable community has been left behind!!!



#savenewlodgearts

#northbelfastartsmattertoo

#artsmatterni

Absolutely furious about the decision of 100per cent cut to New Lodge Arts funding. My daughter was in the middle of training in two dance classes at the stage of 4 weeks away from exams which she now cannot complete. A year of hard work wasted for her now. She was devastated yesterday to the point of crying all afternoon. She is 8yrs old. There's little enough in north Belfast for the kids and to strip these classes away without any prior notice is a disgrace. The team at New Lodge Arts worked so hard to provide us with Arts that we normally cannot avail of in this part of the city be it financially or geographically. Shame on you!!! #Savenewlodgearts

Absolutely disgusted at the decision to cut New Lodge Arts 100%. My daughter is heartbroken, she has made so many friends from other areas (cross community). These classes have built her confidence, made her feel good and also great exercise that is important for her health. I just can't get my head around this at all, one of the most deprived areas gets 100% cut just doesn't make sense. My other daughter attended the summer drama school, I just couldn't get over the performance at the end of the week. My daughter got on stage, had a lot of lines. At this stage my daughter was having difficulties in school, I still can't believe how much this has helped her. I was actually crying with happiness at the transformation in a week! Thank you New Lodge Arts, use are truly amazing. SaveNewLodgeArts!

Absolutely disgusted at the decision made to cut funding for North Belfast arts groups in particular New Lodge Arts. My daughter has attended several of the classes on offer for the past few years and has also been involved in the drama summer scheme where the children work together to put on a show at the end of the week. Classes like this have helped my daughter make friends, grow in confidence and develop socially. As always it's the areas and communities that need it most are the ones to lose out. I implore the people in charge of these decisions to take another look at this. We won't let our children be the victims of this. We won't go down without a fight #SaveNewlodgeArts #NorthBelfastartsmattertoo #ArtsMatterNI

They have supported and helped me so much. With out them I wouldn't be were I am now. Nothing but love for the Arts Council here �

New design business starting up in Belfast...Custom made contemporary maps to remember life's special journeys. Choose your map, design, text and journey for £20 (framed inc p&p)

I think is good thing;that are you doing,I am koshi mensah denyo, from west Africa 🇬🇭, we have art and artist over here....that looking helps and chances ,plz can't we correbeyed with Ghana? Yrs partner koshi

Totally disgusted at the loss of funding to New lodge arts! As a mother of a daughter who has attended there for 5 years, my daughter has had a tough time for a child and the love and support showen by the staff here has been second to none! She has taken part in lots of shows, young youth projects cross community progects to name a few! Cant work out how you come to these decisions when so many other places got hundreds of thousands of pounds!!! Totally unfair! Our children deserve to have this service as much as any other community! #savenewlodgearts

The (so-called) Arts Council has cut 100% funding to New Lodge Arts classes, that provide vital services for young people in North Belfast. For many children in North Belfast working-class families (including mine!), these classes are the only accessible form of art and culture available

I wonder what other projects are funded instead, now. Classes/events in the MAC, Odyssey or W5 that will cost the end user £15-£50 a head possibly? So much for social equality!

Shame on you leaving children without any hobbies. My niece absouletly loved these classes and is absouletly devasted. #savenewlodgearts

My rating reflects the recent disgraceful decision to remove 100% funding from New Lodge Arts. Not having these Arts classes in N. Belfast will leave a huge void and many families will be negatively impacted from the detrimental effects this will have on the development of their children. Shameful decision! #SaveNewLodgeArts

I’m appalled by the scandalous decision to cut funding to New Lodge Arts by 100%!! This decision must be reviewed and overturned for the sake of all the children in the area to whom this funding gave a voice, a song, a dance and an opportunity to express themselves in vivid colour. #dontstealthecolourfromtheirlives

It is an absolute disgrace that you cut the funding in Newlodge Arts by 100% surely it would be better to cut funding on a much smaller scale on every project!!! The amount of cross community work done by Newlodge Arts over the years is amazing, shame on you!!! Once again the projects that most need it are affected, these young people benefit so much from all the classes and other activities!!!

Disgusting to hear you are cutting funds for children on the autistic spectrum in the arts! From experience my son is a different child when he dances and for this to be taken away is not only disgusting on my child but to any child who benefits as a way of helping them express themselves in ways they can't every day!!@ funding needs to be maintained in rural areas too! We don't have access to much facilities and to take it away from children who would benefit most is appalling!

Cutting off 100% funding to New Lodge Arts appears to run contrary to your aims set out in your Strategic Ambition Document, within which you state 'the fundamental issue is that the potential that the arts possess should not be enjoyed only by those who have the benefit of material resources, of educational advantage or of family tradition. The real challenge is to open our minds to the possibility of genuinely opening access to all them before now.' Yet here we find complete funding cuts in an area that needs it most. Is it the case that the arts is only open now to those who can afford it? Do we now have to buy access to privilege in North Belfast? The arts is an essential route to creativity and innovation for all society. Creativity is meant to be a key priority for the government to improve innovation and the economy across all of NI (see Innovation Strategy 2014 & Arts Council NI Strategy). The Arts Council NI, the Department for Culture, Charal Ni Chuilin and Chair Bob Collins need to review this decision. Whilst there is a political vacuum at the moment, this cannot continue to be an excuse to make cuts under the radar, where essential services are needed most.

Can’t believe you have cut funding to an essential arts service of North Belfast that my family use on a regular basis. Yet again a vulnerable community has been left behind!!!



#savenewlodgearts

#northbelfastartsmattertoo

#artsmatterni

Absolutely furious about the decision of 100per cent cut to New Lodge Arts funding. My daughter was in the middle of training in two dance classes at the stage of 4 weeks away from exams which she now cannot complete. A year of hard work wasted for her now. She was devastated yesterday to the point of crying all afternoon. She is 8yrs old. There's little enough in north Belfast for the kids and to strip these classes away without any prior notice is a disgrace. The team at New Lodge Arts worked so hard to provide us with Arts that we normally cannot avail of in this part of the city be it financially or geographically. Shame on you!!! #Savenewlodgearts

Absolutely disgusted at the decision to cut New Lodge Arts 100%. My daughter is heartbroken, she has made so many friends from other areas (cross community). These classes have built her confidence, made her feel good and also great exercise that is important for her health. I just can't get my head around this at all, one of the most deprived areas gets 100% cut just doesn't make sense. My other daughter attended the summer drama school, I just couldn't get over the performance at the end of the week. My daughter got on stage, had a lot of lines. At this stage my daughter was having difficulties in school, I still can't believe how much this has helped her. I was actually crying with happiness at the transformation in a week! Thank you New Lodge Arts, use are truly amazing. SaveNewLodgeArts!

Absolutely disgusted at the decision made to cut funding for North Belfast arts groups in particular New Lodge Arts. My daughter has attended several of the classes on offer for the past few years and has also been involved in the drama summer scheme where the children work together to put on a show at the end of the week. Classes like this have helped my daughter make friends, grow in confidence and develop socially. As always it's the areas and communities that need it most are the ones to lose out. I implore the people in charge of these decisions to take another look at this. We won't let our children be the victims of this. We won't go down without a fight #SaveNewlodgeArts #NorthBelfastartsmattertoo #ArtsMatterNI

They have supported and helped me so much. With out them I wouldn't be were I am now. Nothing but love for the Arts Council here �

New design business starting up in Belfast...Custom made contemporary maps to remember life's special journeys. Choose your map, design, text and journey for £20 (framed inc p&p)

I think is good thing;that are you doing,I am koshi mensah denyo, from west Africa 🇬🇭, we have art and artist over here....that looking helps and chances ,plz can't we correbeyed with Ghana? Yrs partner koshi

Totally disgusted at the loss of funding to New lodge arts! As a mother of a daughter who has attended there for 5 years, my daughter has had a tough time for a child and the love and support showen by the staff here has been second to none! She has taken part in lots of shows, young youth projects cross community progects to name a few! Cant work out how you come to these decisions when so many other places got hundreds of thousands of pounds!!! Totally unfair! Our children deserve to have this service as much as any other community! #savenewlodgearts

The (so-called) Arts Council has cut 100% funding to New Lodge Arts classes, that provide vital services for young people in North Belfast. For many children in North Belfast working-class families (including mine!), these classes are the only accessible form of art and culture available

I wonder what other projects are funded instead, now. Classes/events in the MAC, Odyssey or W5 that will cost the end user £15-£50 a head possibly? So much for social equality!

Shame on you leaving children without any hobbies. My niece absouletly loved these classes and is absouletly devasted. #savenewlodgearts

My rating reflects the recent disgraceful decision to remove 100% funding from New Lodge Arts. Not having these Arts classes in N. Belfast will leave a huge void and many families will be negatively impacted from the detrimental effects this will have on the development of their children. Shameful decision! #SaveNewLodgeArts

I’m appalled by the scandalous decision to cut funding to New Lodge Arts by 100%!! This decision must be reviewed and overturned for the sake of all the children in the area to whom this funding gave a voice, a song, a dance and an opportunity to express themselves in vivid colour. #dontstealthecolourfromtheirlives

It is an absolute disgrace that you cut the funding in Newlodge Arts by 100% surely it would be better to cut funding on a much smaller scale on every project!!! The amount of cross community work done by Newlodge Arts over the years is amazing, shame on you!!! Once again the projects that most need it are affected, these young people benefit so much from all the classes and other activities!!!

Disgusting to hear you are cutting funds for children on the autistic spectrum in the arts! From experience my son is a different child when he dances and for this to be taken away is not only disgusting on my child but to any child who benefits as a way of helping them express themselves in ways they can't every day!!@ funding needs to be maintained in rural areas too! We don't have access to much facilities and to take it away from children who would benefit most is appalling!

Cutting off 100% funding to New Lodge Arts appears to run contrary to your aims set out in your Strategic Ambition Document, within which you state 'the fundamental issue is that the potential that the arts possess should not be enjoyed only by those who have the benefit of material resources, of educational advantage or of family tradition. The real challenge is to open our minds to the possibility of genuinely opening access to all them before now.' Yet here we find complete funding cuts in an area that needs it most. Is it the case that the arts is only open now to those who can afford it? Do we now have to buy access to privilege in North Belfast? The arts is an essential route to creativity and innovation for all society. Creativity is meant to be a key priority for the government to improve innovation and the economy across all of NI (see Innovation Strategy 2014 & Arts Council NI Strategy). The Arts Council NI, the Department for Culture, Charal Ni Chuilin and Chair Bob Collins need to review this decision. Whilst there is a political vacuum at the moment, this cannot continue to be an excuse to make cuts under the radar, where essential services are needed most.

Can’t believe you have cut funding to an essential arts service of North Belfast that my family use on a regular basis. Yet again a vulnerable community has been left behind!!!



#savenewlodgearts

#northbelfastartsmattertoo

#artsmatterni

Absolutely furious about the decision of 100per cent cut to New Lodge Arts funding. My daughter was in the middle of training in two dance classes at the stage of 4 weeks away from exams which she now cannot complete. A year of hard work wasted for her now. She was devastated yesterday to the point of crying all afternoon. She is 8yrs old. There's little enough in north Belfast for the kids and to strip these classes away without any prior notice is a disgrace. The team at New Lodge Arts worked so hard to provide us with Arts that we normally cannot avail of in this part of the city be it financially or geographically. Shame on you!!! #Savenewlodgearts

Absolutely disgusted at the decision to cut New Lodge Arts 100%. My daughter is heartbroken, she has made so many friends from other areas (cross community). These classes have built her confidence, made her feel good and also great exercise that is important for her health. I just can't get my head around this at all, one of the most deprived areas gets 100% cut just doesn't make sense. My other daughter attended the summer drama school, I just couldn't get over the performance at the end of the week. My daughter got on stage, had a lot of lines. At this stage my daughter was having difficulties in school, I still can't believe how much this has helped her. I was actually crying with happiness at the transformation in a week! Thank you New Lodge Arts, use are truly amazing. SaveNewLodgeArts!

Absolutely disgusted at the decision made to cut funding for North Belfast arts groups in particular New Lodge Arts. My daughter has attended several of the classes on offer for the past few years and has also been involved in the drama summer scheme where the children work together to put on a show at the end of the week. Classes like this have helped my daughter make friends, grow in confidence and develop socially. As always it's the areas and communities that need it most are the ones to lose out. I implore the people in charge of these decisions to take another look at this. We won't let our children be the victims of this. We won't go down without a fight #SaveNewlodgeArts #NorthBelfastartsmattertoo #ArtsMatterNI