Arts – Towards an Inclusive Society, Northern Ireland 2005, 21-23 October 2005, is an international conference of artists, community arts activists, community workers, policy makers and other experts to examine the role of the arts in bringing about meaningful social change, shining a spotlight on community arts activity in Northern Ireland. Local projects will be showcased to an international audience demonstrating, in particular, how community arts has evolved throughout the peace process. Conference sessions will include world-renowned speakers, expert panels, lively discussions, and interactive community arts showcases in and around Belfast. The events planned will give delegates the opportunity to explore peace-building through community arts processes and practices with particular emphasis on issues of access, participation, authorship and ownership. The conference will also highlight innovative and successful practices from other parts of the world. A key aim is to encourage and foster professional exchanges and partnerships. CAF will be building an online global Community Arts Network for sharing ideas and experience and a Community Arts Partners’ Bank as a starting point for meaningful and sustained global community arts exchanges. The main themes of the conference are:

Transforming Communities through the Arts: Access, Participation. Authorship, and Ownership

Arts in the Context of Conflict: What are We Learning? The conference is being organised by the Community Arts Forum in collaboration with NICVA and the Rural Community Network, and will be held in conjunction with the launch of Belfast City Council’s Capital Celebrations and the Belfast Festival at Queen’s. The main sponsors so far are the Belfast City Council, and Arts and Business. For more information about Community Arts Forum, CLICK HERE. For further information, CLICK HERE.