Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister Gregory Campbell, MP MLA launched the Lyric Education programme, funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland on 20 October at the Linen Hall Library. This exciting new project will engage with and encourage young people to participate in the arts, through four pilot projects in primary and post primary education.
Mr Campbell said, “I believe that the arts play an important role in all our lives, helping people to explore and challenge issues in different ways and these projects will do just that. I am very hopeful this programme can add to and develop the rich heritage we have in performance arts in Northern Ireland.”
Adding her support, Roisín McDonough, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Chief Executive said “As the principal funder of the Lyric Theatre for decades, the Arts Council is please to allocate an additional £50,000 to this new and exciting education programme. It is great to see that the Lyric is moving forward, through touring productions and education, particularly since the theatre building is currently closed.
She concluded, “We all recognise the importance of promoting creativity and cultural understanding through schools and by engaging with young people in non-formal settings. This programme will not only help the arts become a valued part of cultural development for those involved, but also expand the range of opportunities for young people to participate in and enjoy the arts”.
The exciting new project will see schools in Northern Ireland enjoying the thrill of their own professional productions, some will be encouraged to step onto a stage for the first time with other students being given the resources to realise their professional ambitions. Four pilot projects, covering primary and post primary institutions, will provide the basis of a comprehensive education programme at the new Lyric, being redeveloped in Belfast.
Mark Carruthers, Chairman, Lyric Theatre, commented, “Education is at the heart of the Lyric Theatre’s work and will form a key element of our new theatre’s operations. We are passionate about developing performance arts with young people and as the only producing theatre we are very excited to be bringing these initiatives to schools and colleges across Northern Ireland.
“The Lyric has a very large part to play in enriching young people’s knowledge and understanding through the experience of live theatre and we very much look forward to receiving feedback from all those participating in the projects.”