Pictured are Brian Fitzpatrick, DKIT Students’ Union; Amrutaben Patel from India; Yuke Cai from China. The Re-Imaging programme offers funding to community groups and local authorities across Northern Ireland and the Border Region that want to tackle sectarianism and racism
Students from over 40 countries studying at Dundalk IT will have the opportunity to join forces with residents of the neighbouring housing estate of Muirhevnamor to shape a new piece of public art that will connect the campus and surrounding community of Dundalk.
The Students’ Union at DKIT is one of seven groups in the border area to be awarded initial grants totalling £41,229 from the Building Peace through the Arts – Re-Imaging Communities programme which is funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the European Union’s Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEACE III) managed by the Special EU Programmes Body and the International Fund for Ireland.
The Building Peace through the Arts – Re-Imaging Communities programme offers funding to community groups and local authorities across Northern Ireland and the border region that want to tackle sectarianism and racism. Up to £5,000 is available to fund peace building through local consultation and creative engagement for each project site. Upon completion of this stage, a second application up to £50,000 can be made to produce and install the artwork.
The Dundalk Institute of Technology Students’ Union (DkIT SU) has been awarded £4,700 to facilitate an art project that will be a welcoming symbol of shared space while reflecting the diversity of the college and the changing demographics of the border town of Dundalk. The public art will be installed in the extensive campus grounds, which are used by students and local people alike. It is hoped that the project will provide an opportunity for dialogue between groups while exploring and challenging issues of sectarianism and racism.
Brian Fitzpatrick, President of DKIT Students’ Union, said: “We are delighted to have received this funding and plan to use it to help foster relationships within and between the student population and surrounding communities culminating in the creation of a piece of public artwork in the campus grounds. It is an exciting time for us and we look forward to working together to promote community cohesion and in developing a legacy for the wider community to appreciate and enjoy.”
Other southern border areas to have been awarded funding through the Building Peace programme include Cavan County Council, awarded £15,800 for 4 projects within the Redhills, Ballyconnell, Cootehill and Bailieboro areas and Drogheda Civic Trust, awarded £5,000 for the development of artwork that will help address issues of sectarianism and racism while promoting multi-culturalism.
To find out more about the programme, please click here or contact the Arts Council’s Re-Imaging Communities team on +44 (0) 28 9038 5228.
Talk of the Town 