Festival goes to the Waterworks 2010.

17 September 2010

New Lodge Arts, Westland Community Group and Young at Art have worked closely with local organisations, schools and residents in North Belfast since February in the planning and delivery of the large-scale community and youth-led event in May 2010 where the Waterworks Park in North Belfast was transformed into an amazing landscape, with artwork hanging from every tree, on every lawn and even in the water.

Prior to the large scale outdoor event, and through the support of the Integrating Communities Programme, over 30 local schools and community groups were involved in an art outreach programme making decorations for the park such as tree chandeliers and giant polka dots. Residents from both the New Lodge & Westland communities came together to engage in a Training programme to increase creative employment in North Belfast. 20 Adults and young people in North Belfast were trained in: child protection, health & safety, event management and public relations. In addition a Volunteer programme was delivered to promote volunteering and skills development across the North Belfast community, building capacity in the local area for their own events and involving them in citywide arts provision.

The project was designed to transform the mindsets of local people in regard to the Waterworks Park, so as to create a shared cultural space in which people can express their own ideas from their different backgrounds and find a common expression for their creativity.