Contents
Foreword P4
North Down, A Borough for Recreation….. P5
North Down Borough Council and the Arts P6
About the Arts Section P8
Mission Statement P10
Vision P10
Objectives P12
Arts and Cultural Development
Access
Participation
Economic and Cultural Regeneration
Foreword
In creating this Arts Strategy, North Down Borough Council is making a clear statement that its goal is to support
the Arts in general, and arts providers in particular, across the Borough.
The Arts are not just about how we might choose to enjoy our leisure time, the Arts are fundamental to our
Borough, its economy and its culture. They provide a unique opportunity to expand the wealth of this borough,
not just in monetary terms, but in ways that will enhance the culture and well being of every citizen in North
Down.
North Down Borough Council recognises that local arts providers are crucial to the implementation of this arts
strategy and it has purposely designed the strategy to encourage, develop and support them with their goals in
the years to follow.
The Council also recognises that changes in local government will bring uncertainty and that it is vital to set in
place a blueprint to support and guide our arts providers, and the proposed new Super Councils, in a direction
that will enhance and encourage the provision of arts for the people of North Down.
North Down Borough Council is fully committed to the implementation, management and monitoring of this
strategy and sees the document as only the beginning in securing the future of the Arts within North Down.
The Arts is a form of communication extending beyond reading, writing, listening and speaking and North Down
Borough Council is determined to ensure that this unique „voice‟ is encouraged, supported and enhanced for
future generations.
Councillor Austen Lennon
Chair Arts Committee
North Down, A Borough for Recreation
The Borough of North Down is situated on the southern shores of Belfast Lough. It is a particularly attractive
natural environment combining coastline with countryside. It provides an excellent environment for both work and
recreation. The town of Bangor functions as a service and administrative centre as well as a market town and
seaside resort.
Holywood maintains its identity as a popular residential area. There are also five villages (Crawfordsburn,
Groomsport, Helen‟s Bay, Conlig and Seahill) and a hamlet (Six Road Ends). With just thirteen miles from Bangor
to Belfast, North Down is linked by road and rail networks to ports and to Belfast City Airport.
North Down has a growing population that was estimated at 75,802 in mid 2000, or 4.5% of the total Northern
Ireland population. The population is expected to increase to 76,300 by 2013. Of all the Council areas in
Northern Ireland it has the lowest population of young people aged 014 years (19%) and it has the highest
population of elderly residents (17%). Around three quarters of the population of North Down reside in Bangor.
Bangor has been fortunate in diversifying its local economy in recent years. North Down is a successful tourist
resort and is acknowledged as one of the most tranquil and stable areas in Northern Ireland. However four of
the North Down wards rank well within the top 50% of deprived areas for Northern Ireland.
North Down Borough Council and the Arts
North Down has both great strengths and weaknesses in its Arts infrastructure. North Down is learning to harness
the strength of art as a tool for wider social and economic regeneration; one of the main aims of this strategy is
to establish North Down as a centre of excellence for the Arts.
The Council wants to promote access to the arts in North Down. To do this the Council recognises the need for
partnership with bodies such as The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, The Arts Council and The
Department for Social Development, to name a few, to work together to find solutions to the various challenges
that will enhance arts development in the Borough. These partnerships will be continually strengthened and built
upon as a priority for the implementation of this Strategy.
North Down is a base for many established and emerging arts organisations, artists, arts festivals and groups,
which the Council believes needs to be supported both for what they intrinsically are, as well as the
contribution they can make to the development of the Arts in the Borough.
About the Arts Section
History
The Arts Section of North Down Borough Council began circa 1980, with the first Arts Officer appointed in 1988.
The Arts Section is responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of a Council Arts Strategy for
the Borough.
Personnel
The Arts Section currently has three members of staff: the Arts Officer (fulltime), Art of Regeneration
Officer (parttime) and the Arts Assistant (parttime).
Organisational and Reporting Structure The Arts SubCommittee
The Arts Sub-Committee
North Down Borough Council has an established Arts SubCommittee.
This SubCommittee of Council is made up of 7 elected Council members and 6 Independent (voluntary) members
selected through open advertisement to represent the „arts community‟ within North Down. Elected Council
members are nominated directly by Council to serve on this panel. Advisers serve in their personal capacity
representing the community generally; not as a representative of any particular organisation.
The main function of the Arts SubCommittee is to provide advice to the Leisure, Tourism and Community
Development Committee of North Down Borough Council regarding policy for the provision of the Council's arts
activity within the Borough.
Mission Statement
“To provide quality arts activity encompassing a diverse range of art forms in order to enrich the lives of those
who live, work and visit, in the Borough”
Vision
The Council's Vision is that through its arts activity, it will:
• Promote and celebrate culture and creativity
• Contribute to the positive image of North Down as a premier maritime destination –
“a great place to live, work and visit”
Objectives
• To develop Arts and Culture within the Borough
• To create access to the Arts within the Borough
• To encourage and support local community involvement within the Arts
• To add value to economic development and cultural tourism within the Borough
Core Themes
• Access and Profile
• Quality
• The arts contribution to economic development and cultural tourism
• Creativity
Objectives
Arts and Cultural Development
Objective To develop Arts and Culture within the Borough
Cultural activity is fundamental to the development of Borough wide confidence and pride. Arts activity is
necessary to enhance quality of life and selfexpression. The Arts are fundamental to our Borough, as a
celebration of identity and selfexpression.
Actions:
• Create and implement a Public Art Strategy for North Down (to include the promotion of a „per cent‟ for
Arts Scheme)
• Continue to develop and support a programme of arts activities
• Continue to research the development of a purpose built/designed Arts Centre in North Down
• Continue to consult with reference to the design for the Queen‟s Parade development
• Continue to research the development of a Cultural Quarter in North Down
• Continue to develop both new and existing partnerships with statutory and private bodies/organisations
Access
Objective To create access to the Arts in the Borough
The Council believes that the Arts are a vehicle to creating an inclusive society. Culture and the Arts can build
selfesteem, community ownership and pride. The Arts are instrumental in bringing people together and forming
relationships that may not have otherwise developed or been possible. The Council aims to use Arts activity to
widen accessibility and encourage participation.
Actions:
• Develop the Arts Events Programme; specifically to encourage community participation in workshops,
talks and activities, highlighting „fun‟ in art
• Develop and build upon the Aspects Literature Festival programme
• Work in partnership with others to create a more „inclusive‟ programme of arts activities
• Monitor and develop the programme of arts activities; create an audience development plan
• Continue to encourage and facilitate the North Down Arts Community
Participation
Objective To encourage and support local community involvement within the Arts in the Borough
The Council aims to widen community participation in the Arts including the continual development of new
audiences especially encouraging those people who would not normally partake in arts and cultural activities.
The Council believes that by strengthening the Arts infrastructure that this will present North Down as a great
place to work, live and visit.
Actions:
• Encourage local community participation in public art programmes
• Develop broader community participation in the Arts Events Programme/programme of arts activities
through the audience development plan
• Develop and build upon engagement with schools/colleges/ youth through encouraging participation in
the programme of arts activities
• Continue to develop both existing and potential arts funding programmes based on identified local need
• Maintain, develop and build upon the Arts Database and Council Arts Information service; continue to
develop and mail out the ND Arts programme
• Develop, implement, facilitate and monitor training needs and advice for local arts organisations
Economic and Cultural Regeneration
Objective To add value to economic development and cultural tourism within the Borough
The Council aims to use the Arts and Culture to make a valuable contribution to economic development and
cultural tourism. The Arts have a capacity through audience development and encouraged participation to boost
the economic infrastructure. The Council believes that the Arts are fundamental in attracting audiences from the
UK, Ireland, Europe and Internationally.
Actions:
• Create a structured approach to evaluating and measuring arts event activity and activity success and
„customer/visitor satisfaction‟
• Maximise the publicity and marketing of arts events and activity
• Encourage arts festival development/activity
• Maintain, develop and build upon the Arts Database and Council Arts Information Service; continue to
develop and mail out the ND Arts programme
Comments
If you wish to comment on the Strategy, or make any suggestions, please contact us by telephone: +44
(0)28 9127 8032 or email gail.prentice@northdown.gov.uk