Making the announcement on Tuesday 20th September, at the Crescent, the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, David Hanson MP, said that Government would be contributing up to £2.5m towards the project.
“The Crescent Arts Centre is unique in Belfast with the vast range of organisations that it houses or facilitates,” the Minister said during a visit to the Centre when he was briefed on the refurbishment and plans for an extension.
He continued: “This investment will mean that the Arts Centre will be able to stay in this beautiful Victorian building which is situated in an ideal location. This is more good news for Belfast and puts arts and culture at the heart of city life.”
David Hanson pointed out that the project was yet another major step towards the regeneration of the Arts scene in Belfast with £18 million being allocated over the next three years to improving arts venues.
The Minister said: “I am committed to delivering improvements to the arts and cultural infrastructure in Belfast and this project is in continuation of that important process. Together with the £1.2m Lottery Funds already committed by the Arts Council, and a further £319,000 earmarked by the Heritage Lottery Fund, today’s £2.5m announcement is a huge step towards realising the Crescent’s goal of a refurbished centre. It will, I am sure, give impetus to its fund raising campaign.”
Mr Hanson stressed his wish to see more people using the new facilities and greater involvement of local people, especially people living in the surrounding areas.
He said: “With around 80,000 visitors from all sections of the community last year the Centre is ideally placed to serve the local community and to provide a relaxing and welcoming environment in which everyone can enjoy participating in the arts.
“The diversity of what is on offer at the Centre makes it attractive to a vast range of people. From drama and verbal arts to dance and from Tai Chi to popular and classical guitar, it is all available at the Crescent.”
Rosemary Kelly, Chairman of the Arts Council , praised the Crescent’s role as a neutral venue that had succeeded in bringing together increasing numbers of people from the local communities in south Belfast.
She said: “This is a vital arts resource which has been carefully nurtured over the last 20 years. This major investment, in addition to our year-round financial support, will allow the Crescent to develop its important work in a transformed environment that is fit for its purpose and fully accessible.”
The total cost of the project is £ 4.8m so as you can see we do have quite a shortfall. Some time ago, our Board appointed a fundraising committee and the members of this committee are actively seeking funds from trusts and foundations and the corporate sector. Together with these, we will be seeking your help through a public appeal, the details of which we will announce very shortly. The amount we need to raise from this appeal is around £120k and we will be counting on your generous support to get us there.
The Crescent is delighted with this huge endorsement, by Government and our other funders and, at this time, we would like to thank all our users and friends for your valued and loyal support, over many years which has helped to get us to this exciting stage in the Centre’s development.