Down Community Arts Turns 30

Down Community Arts (DCA) is celebrating 3 decades of delivering community arts programmes across Newry Mourne and Down with ‘DCA at 30’, an exhibition of work from projects past and present. Supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland the organisation has continued to enrich the cultural and creative landscape of Newry Mourne and Down over the past 30 years.

The exhibition at Down County Museum from March 27th until May 17th , is a celebration of that work and will display recent examples of artist and community collaborations encompassing art forms such as textile, digital, poetry, ceramic, willow sculpture, film, street, festival, and visual arts. Hosting work by Alison Lowry, John Rainey, Graham Ginty, Caroline Gorman Shimmons, Melissa Mckee, Sharlene Oldroyd, Rena Roohipour, Melissa Mckee, Marian Noone, and Fang Zhao a broad range of high quality art forms will be on display for all to see.

Over the last 30 years, working in partnership with communities has been a key component of DCA’s success, and on display will be a selection of work from communities from Dundrum, Drumaness, Saintfield, Downpatrick, Hilltown, Kilkeel, Newtownhamilton, Moneydarragh, Killyleagh, Strangford and beyond.

The board and staff of DCA are ambitious and moving forward into 2024/25 through its new 5-year strategy ‘Springboard to Growth’ have committed to strengthening not only the arts but, also communities through its plan to annually deliver a minimum of 14 projects across Newry Mourne and Down. A move that will place DCA at the forefront of promoting creativity, inclusivity, and social cohesion through a diverse range of projects for present and future generations.


Clonduff Let’s Craft group worked with textiles artist Rena Roohipour, specifically in tapestry weaving, felting and slow stitch.
Participants have responded to the ‘Person and Place’ theme by looking at aspects of home and identity.
The landscape figures hugely in their thinking, as they are surrounded by beautiful vistas.
They have expanded their discussion to include memory and displacement.
Each participant completed a small woven tapestry, a felted piece and an embroidery hoop, all reflecting their responses.

Speaking on the celebrations Philip Campbell, Project Manager for Down Community Arts commented,

“Thirty years an amazing achievement to reach this milestone and it would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of so many people over the years. There have been hard times along the way but what has always shown through is how much people in Newry Mourne and Down care about the arts. You never really have the time to sit back and take stock as we’re constantly working, looking for funding, and making sure we’re getting arts into our community. I’ve been here quite some time and this past year has provided an opportunity to reflect on all that we have achieved it’s a rewarding role and we as an organisation are looking to support the arts for future generations.”

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New Belfast Community Arts Initiative trading as Community Arts Partnership is a registered charity (XR 36570) and a company limited by guarantee (Northern Ireland NI 37645).Registered with The Charity Commission as New Belfast Community Arts Initiative - NIC105169.