ONLINE RESOURCES
Community Arts Partnership is committed to fulfil a prominent advocacy role in N Ireland for community arts. We will promote the profile and the status of the sector, and will aim to inform policy and resource allocation decisions within public institutions.
We will advocate for the sector through:
- contact with Government, councils, arts authorities, centres of learning, community groups, arts organisations and artists;
- fora for advocacy, learning and cultural development;
- information and research about provision and positive impacts of community arts on society;
- attending and hosting events providing opportunities for networking and sharing experiences;
- public talks;
- acting as a central point of contact for the community arts sector
Sector lead:
- CAP hosts #ArtsMattersNI website, administrates its funds and platforms the lobbying activity.
- CAP co-chaired
- NICVA’s DCAL Monitoring Group
- Arts Policy Forum with Voluntary Arts Ireland
Common Platform founding member
Lobbying, contact with government, local councils, arts authorities, centres of learning, community groups, arts organisations and artists
Forums for advocacy, learning and cultural development
Information and research about provision and positive impacts of community arts on society
Attending and hosting events providing opportunities for networking and sharing experiences
Public talks
Acting as a central point of contact for the community arts sector
Consultation responses
The Community Arts Sector has a long history of lobbying Government, Local Councils and funders on a range of issues with a particular emphasis on enhancing awareness and recognition of the positive impact of community arts on society. As an active and committed lobbying organisation, Community Arts Partnership endeavours to make the case for community arts across all areas and levels of society. By working collaboratively, we make a compelling case for the importance and value of the arts.
Through Lobbying our aim is to inform and influence government policy makers and shape public policy. Community Arts lobbying is an effective channel for the sector to take part in the process and for discussion of policy and legislation.
Current Lobbying Initiatives
Arts Policy Forum
Community Arts Partnership and Voluntary Arts Ireland co-chair the Arts Policy Forum. The Arts Policy Forum aims to enhance the capacity of arts organisations to contribute to policy development. The Forum meets three times a year and its aim is “To enhance the capacity of the voluntary and community arts sector to make policy responses and participate in policy development, in order to influence decision making and public policy”.
Membership of the Forum is drawn from across the voluntary and community sector and is open to any organisation with an interest in community arts issues. To contact the Forum telephone 028 9087 7777
New Arts Council of Northern Ireland Community Arts Strategy
Community Arts Partnership will be a leading stakeholder working alongside the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to formulate the new Community Arts Strategy in the near future.
Arts funding feedback session and report
Community Arts Partnership facilitated a feedback meeting following the Annual Funding Programme application process in November 2011 and will disseminate the findings to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL). This feedback session was intended to be both deliberative and constructive, to improve processes for all concerned.
The Northern Ireland Assembly Inquiry into the Creative Industries
A current Inquiry into the Creative Industries is being carried out by the Committee for Culture Arts and Leisure. The Committee recently held a stakeholder meeting for organisations involved in the Creative Industries. Community Arts Partnership represented the sector at the event and were able to voice the concerns and issues pertinent to the Inquiry.
The Assembly Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure recently held a stakeholder event in The Strule Arts Centre, Omagh, as part of its Inquiry into maximising the potential of the Creative Industries. Participants discussed with Committee Members the potential of the creative industries, current challenges facing the sector and the support needed to maximise growth and development.
Youth Arts Strategy
Community Arts Partnership is in the process of contributing to the Youth Arts Strategy within the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
