28/03/2011

Church To Become Community Arts Centre

The organistaion that owns a derelict 150-year-old church in Duncairn, has been awarded £1m to help with vital restoration work.

174 Trust were awarded the funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund to transform Duncairn Presbyterian Church into a community arts centre.

Situated on the Antrim Road, the church stands at one of the gateways to the old Crumlin Road Prison and has been derelict for almost 20 years.

The director of 174 Trust - a non-denominational Christian group - Reverend David Shaw, commented: "The congregation numbers were dwindling since the 1960s and the Troubles didn't make it any easier. The decision was taken to combine the congregation with Saint Enoch's. Now that church has been closed as well.

"We have based the concept on the Culturlann concept on the Falls Road and we devised it about 10 years ago. We want it to be like Culturlann, but even better. It will be a space for local people to visit, a functional arts centre."

North Belfast Sinn Fein Assemblyman Gerry Kelly also commented: "People talk about north Belfast being as a microcosm of the conflict. This place can be a cockpit in the post-conflict era."

Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Northern Ireland, Peter Mullan, said: "The project will maximise the potential of this shared space, creating a range of new facilities to provide enhanced educational opportunities and access to a range of arts, heritage and cultural events for the local community."

(JG/GK)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

25 March 2011
North Belfast Church To Become Community Arts Centre
The trust that owns a derelict 150-year-old church in Duncairn, has been awarded £1m to help with vital restoration work. 174 Trust were awarded the funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund to transform Duncairn Presbyterian Church into a community arts centre.
20 April 2010
Crescent Arts Centre Restoration Complete
The newly refurbished Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast has been re-opened, following an 18-month restoration project. The £7.2m scheme involved a refurbishment and restoration, which has preserved the exterior façade of the Grade II listed building. The refurbished centre includes an extension that increases the accommodation by approximately 900m2.
02 March 2018
Schools Closures Across NI
The Department of Education have published a list of all schools across that have confirmed they will be closed today, Friday 2nd March, 2018 due to the adverse weather conditions.
23 November 2009
April Opening For Revamped Arts Centre
Belfast's refurbished Crescent Arts Centre will opens its doors to the public in April, it has been confirmed. The £7.2m restoration project at the listed Victorian complex began in September 2008. Works undertaken at the arts centre include the creation of new state-of-the-art dance studios, performance spaces and photography studios.
19 September 2018
Up To 100 Roads Closed As Storm Ali Hits NI
A growing number of roads across Northern Ireland are closed due to adverse weather conditions as a result of Storm Ali.