Our vision is of ... full access to art

The Community Arts Forum estimates there are over 1,500 groups and individuals involved in the delivery of community arts in Northern Ireland. The lowest estimate for the total size of the voluntary arts sector is 1,400 groups.  

Voluntary and community arts groups are the lead providers of opportunities to take part in art. In Northern Ireland over 1,400 groups provide 160,000 adults with 8.1 million chances to participate a year and reach audiences of the same order. People aged between 16 and 24, and those over 65, are most likely to participate in voluntary arts groups.  Just under half of all adult participants are aged 40 or under.

Investment in the arts is particularly vulnerable in tough financial times as the arts are often viewed as a luxury. However the contribution arts make to community cohesion, personal development, tourism and the wider economy should not be underestimated.  The creative sector, which employs 33,000 people in Northern Ireland and contributes £582m to the economy per year, relies on arts and artists. 39% of visitors to Northern Ireland engaged in cultural activities while here.  Voluntary and community arts will be crucial to ensuring that exciting new developments such as the Lyric Theatre and Metropolitan Arts Centre are able to realise their potential.

In order to realise our vision of a Northern Ireland where lives are enriched by full access to all forms of voluntary and community arts, politicians and political parties should:

• Adopt an ‘Arts Proof’ policy across central and local government to include, involving representatives of the arts in social, economic and environmental consultation and planning process.
• Actively promote use of the ‘percentage for arts’ scheme.
• Move the level of arts funding closer to that in Britain and the Republic of Ireland. Actively protect and promote un-biased, adequate and secure long-term funding to the voluntary and community arts.
• Increase access to the arts by enabling people from new communities, isolated and marginalised groups to participate in and enjoy the arts.
• Ensure that voluntary and community based arts play a strong role in planning and delivery of the 2013 City of Culture in Derry.
• Support programmes to encourage greater links between arts and education and arts and health.