The statistics used to define poverty and social exclusion in the city of Derry/Londonderry are stark.
It is the third most deprived local authority out of 26 in Northern Ireland and ranked fourth in the UK in terms of child poverty.
Yet the city should not be judged on these statistics alone; its population is young and vibrant (36% of residents are under 16) and the success of Derry City of Culture 2013 and associated initiatives, such as the hosting of the 2013 Turner prize, have proved this is a city that is proud, dynamic and looking to its future.
With funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, which is managed by the Museums Association, we have developed a project to use the Arts Council Northern Ireland (ACNI) collection of modern and contemporary art to reconnect individuals with their localities and heritage, and to foster and inspire their creativity.
We also hope to develop champions for the national and local museum services of Northern Ireland. We are working in partnership with Derry City Council’s museums and visitor services, which has an impressive track record of proactive engagement with people who would not normally see themselves as museum visitors.
Our aim is to develop a new model that will transform the relationships that local museums across Northern Ireland have with their communities.
The ACNI collection has the potential to achieve this because the artworks are mainly by local artists about local issues. The 1,040 artworks in the collection span 1945-2000 and were created during, and inspired by, some of the most momentous events in Northern Ireland’s recent past – the postwar period, the social and political changes of the 1960s and the period commonly referred to as the Troubles.
Many of the artists represented in the ACNI collection are still active, and this presents a unique opportunity for us to work with them to bring the art to life.
The appointment of an art engagement officer for two years will allow a meaningful community engagement programme to be developed with this exceptional artistic resource. The programme will be evaluated throughout the project and the results will be used to inform the partnership working model.
This project is about getting the ACNI collection out into the community – through focus groups and workshops, interpretations by living artists and exhibitions co-curated with community groups.
It will allow the staff involved to benefit from knowledge sharing, and it will open up future opportunities for further collaborations and better use of the ACNI collection.
Kim Mawhinney is the head of art at National Museums Northern Ireland
It is the third most deprived local authority out of 26 in Northern Ireland and ranked fourth in the UK in terms of child poverty.
Yet the city should not be judged on these statistics alone; its population is young and vibrant (36% of residents are under 16) and the success of Derry City of Culture 2013 and associated initiatives, such as the hosting of the 2013 Turner prize, have proved this is a city that is proud, dynamic and looking to its future.
With funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, which is managed by the Museums Association, we have developed a project to use the Arts Council Northern Ireland (ACNI) collection of modern and contemporary art to reconnect individuals with their localities and heritage, and to foster and inspire their creativity.
We also hope to develop champions for the national and local museum services of Northern Ireland. We are working in partnership with Derry City Council’s museums and visitor services, which has an impressive track record of proactive engagement with people who would not normally see themselves as museum visitors.
Our aim is to develop a new model that will transform the relationships that local museums across Northern Ireland have with their communities.
The ACNI collection has the potential to achieve this because the artworks are mainly by local artists about local issues. The 1,040 artworks in the collection span 1945-2000 and were created during, and inspired by, some of the most momentous events in Northern Ireland’s recent past – the postwar period, the social and political changes of the 1960s and the period commonly referred to as the Troubles.
Many of the artists represented in the ACNI collection are still active, and this presents a unique opportunity for us to work with them to bring the art to life.
The appointment of an art engagement officer for two years will allow a meaningful community engagement programme to be developed with this exceptional artistic resource. The programme will be evaluated throughout the project and the results will be used to inform the partnership working model.
This project is about getting the ACNI collection out into the community – through focus groups and workshops, interpretations by living artists and exhibitions co-curated with community groups.
It will allow the staff involved to benefit from knowledge sharing, and it will open up future opportunities for further collaborations and better use of the ACNI collection.
Kim Mawhinney is the head of art at National Museums Northern Ireland
