The European Foundation Centre is an international membership association of foundations and corporate funders. This year they held their annual conference in Belfast and this included a range of thematic events.
The conference theme was ‘Peace through social justice: A role for foundations?’ and the conference brought together some 600 representatives of funding trusts and foundations from all over Europe and beyond.
The thematic event, ‘The contribution of community arts and culture: An opportunity for self-expression’ was hosted by Ken Logue from Atlantic Philanthropies and MC’ed by Conor Shields from Community Arts Partnership. Over 80 delegates were given the opportunity to observe a showcase of work and meet 15 organisations involved in community arts and socially-engaged arts practice on Wednesday 6th June exhibiting in the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast.
This provided an excellent opportunity for organisations to speak directly to funders from trusts and foundations and to discuss their projects and inform delegates of the quality of work in the area of community arts and socially-engaged creative activity. It was also an opportunity to reflect the work that they are doing to the local trusts and foundations that support of their work and a great opportunity for local organisations to catch up with each other.
A showcase of work was presented to delegates which included performances and a presentation of films from Big Telly, Northern Visions, Community Arts Partnership and Beat Carnival and an Interactive Virtual ArtCart digital media presentation by Wheelworks.
Musicians entertained the delegates with performances provided by the Open Arts Community Choir, Beyond Skin, Andersonstown Traditional and Contemporary Music School and singer-songwriter Fionnuala Fagan.
In feedback, EFC delegates commented that this was “a very interesting evening, that gave context to the conference” and from organisations that “it was a great evening and a fantastic opportunity to present”.
To find out more about the organisations involved the links are below:
Educational Shakespeare Company
The MAC
Tinderbox Theatre Company
WheelWorks
Open Arts Community Choir
New Lodge Arts
Music Theatre 4 Youth
DU Dance
Beyond Skin
Big Telly Theatre Company
Kids in Control
The Beat Initiative
Andersonstown Traditional and Contemporary Music School
Fionnuala Fagan
Northern Visions
Images from the event are available on www.flickr.com/photos/comartspartner/.
