Ballymena art work situated in the Peoples Park has been nominated for award. As part of the Arts Development Service of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council the Five Apples Project is part of the work which has been shortlisted. Mid and East Antrim Council has been nominated in the Best Local Authority Arts Project Encouraging Community Cohesion category for the Creative Citizens programme. Ours is the only Council in Northern Ireland to be shortlisted in the awards.
Ballymena art work nominated for award
Japanese Artist Shiro Masuyama created the Five Apples Project.
Each apple reflects a period of historical significance. Shiro reflects the symbolism of the apple to Adam and Eve, William Tell, Isaac Newton, The Beatles and Steve Jobs.
Collectively the apples symbolise a number of key community-based themes including working together, trust, growth and peace building.
The five apples project was commissioned by the Dunclug Partnership as a result of its involvement with Building Peace Through the Arts programme.
On receipt of the nomination as finalist, the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Paul Reid, said, “We are extremely proud to be shortlisted alongside some fantastic local councils throughout the UK. Our creative citizens programme gives local people the opportunity to explore the value of creative citizenship, as well as championing the importance of arts in bringing together people from all parts of the Borough.”
An alternative to a direct arts programme, the Creative Citizens programme enabled the Council to embark on a new approach to sustain and develop cultural infrastructure throughout the community, by directly responding to the needs and interests of local residents.
Discussing the nomination, the Local Government Association said: “It’s very difficult for an authority to let go, so their approach to engaging the community was brave and clearly paid off. As a result, the project looks to be sustainable, having generated capacity and energy within the community itself.”
Rosalind continues “Engaging with the public resulted in over 20,000 people participating in over 150 arts and culture related events, ranging from Church trails to Café sessions and has proven to be one of the largest cross-community projects the Borough has ever seen. It has offered new opportunities for local people to experience the arts in some cases for the first time and in the most unusual places.
“This is why the Creative Citizens programme works!”
The shortlist was judged by representatives from this year’s partners in the awards: UK Theatre, Arts Development UK, Culture Counts, the Local Government Association, and What Next? The winners of the Hearts For The Arts Awards 2018 will be announced on Wednesday 14 February. (Source)
So we look forward to seeing if we win in February. We will let you know what we find out.
