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13/03/2008
Great Craic As Ulster-Scots Grant Announced In US
It wasn't quite 'money from America' - as the local lingo goes - but the announcement that some 500 young people here are to benefit from a £3 million funding boost for the Ulster-Scots Agency was timed to coincide with a high profile US Ministerial visit this week.
NI Assembly Culture Minister Edwin Poots yesterday revealed that the money – to be received over the next three years – will be spent providing an extra 15 Ulster-Scots Summer Schools, 12 Ulster-Scots after schools clubs and music or dance tuition for the 500 young people.
Mr Poots said: "I am also looking at further options to secure more funding that will be delivered at grass roots levels by the Ulster-Scots Agency."
The Minister is concluding a visit to Tennessee and Texas tomorrow as part of a drive to promote Ulster-Scots links with the USA from where the Minister commented: "The Ulster-Scots culture is increasingly being recognised as a very important part of the Northern Ireland culture, making a valuable contribution to the economy and tourism."
The Minister was able to enjoy some good 'craic' too as his programme took him to Texas for the 'South by South West' music festival in Austin, Texas where exhibitors included Belfast City Council, the Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission and the Belfast Music Writers' group.
Speaking in the USA he said: "The agency must therefore be adequately funded to enable it to do its promotional activities properly.
"This new funding will strengthen the infrastructure of the Ulster-Scots Agency and can be seen as part of the Government's commitment to the Ulster-Scots community.
"The £3million will have a very real and visible impact on the ground. The activities that will be funded are primarily culturally based which will make them accessible to everyone across the community."
In response, the Ulster-Scots Agency Chairman, Mark Thompson, also welcomed the cash: "The additional funding will also enable the agency to support 20 community based festivals, Provide support for Ulster-Scots activity for 20 new groups engaging in Ulster-Scots activity for the first time."
(BMcC)
NI Assembly Culture Minister Edwin Poots yesterday revealed that the money – to be received over the next three years – will be spent providing an extra 15 Ulster-Scots Summer Schools, 12 Ulster-Scots after schools clubs and music or dance tuition for the 500 young people.
Mr Poots said: "I am also looking at further options to secure more funding that will be delivered at grass roots levels by the Ulster-Scots Agency."
The Minister is concluding a visit to Tennessee and Texas tomorrow as part of a drive to promote Ulster-Scots links with the USA from where the Minister commented: "The Ulster-Scots culture is increasingly being recognised as a very important part of the Northern Ireland culture, making a valuable contribution to the economy and tourism."
The Minister was able to enjoy some good 'craic' too as his programme took him to Texas for the 'South by South West' music festival in Austin, Texas where exhibitors included Belfast City Council, the Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission and the Belfast Music Writers' group.
Speaking in the USA he said: "The agency must therefore be adequately funded to enable it to do its promotional activities properly.
"This new funding will strengthen the infrastructure of the Ulster-Scots Agency and can be seen as part of the Government's commitment to the Ulster-Scots community.
"The £3million will have a very real and visible impact on the ground. The activities that will be funded are primarily culturally based which will make them accessible to everyone across the community."
In response, the Ulster-Scots Agency Chairman, Mark Thompson, also welcomed the cash: "The additional funding will also enable the agency to support 20 community based festivals, Provide support for Ulster-Scots activity for 20 new groups engaging in Ulster-Scots activity for the first time."
(BMcC)
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