A new funding programme to promote Northern Ireland arts abroad was launched this week by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland in partnership with the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and the British Council Northern Ireland. Speaking at the launch, before cultural attaches from countries including the Czech Republic, Tuvalu, Argentina, Romania, Israel, Cuba and Greece, were Arts Council Chairman Brian Walker and Arts Council CEO Roisin McDonough. The speakers announced about £250,000 in funding measures aimed at facilitating Northern Ireland arts abroad. Included in the funding measures was £100,000 under the Arts and Artists Abroad programme, of which £50,000 was contributed by DCAL to encompass promotion in Great Britain, and £20,000 under the Arts and Disability Networking Abroad. £10,000 in funding under the International Artists’ Profile Scheme is aimed at enabling artists to create promotional portfolios of their work on CD Rom or using other multimedia technology, while £35,000 for Travel Awards will enable artists to bring their work abroad. In addition more than £75,000 was invested in Artists’ Residencies in Canada, USA and Italy, including £25 to facilitate Self-Arranged Residencies. For more information, visit the Arts Council of Northern Ireland HERE