Brown Says Council Must Take Advantage Of New Funding To Support The Arts

Last week Rowallane councillors Patrick Brown (Alliance) and Harry Harvey (DUP) of Neewry Mourne and Down District Council attended an ‘Arts and Community Planning Symposium’ in the Burnavon Arts Centre in Cookstown.

The event aimed to show how the arts can complement the work of local councils in community planning, and even increase investment and living standards. Councillor Brown said: “the symposium highlighted ways in which arts organisations around the world have utilised their cultural and artistic heritage to provide community services, attract business and do so in a cost effective way through applying innovative design concepts to community planning”.

At the event, the Arts Council also unveiled its new match-funding scheme, where they have pledged to provide all councils with up to £150,000 of match funding to be used to boost the role of the arts in their district. Councillor Brown added: “I really hope Newry, Mourne and Down Council will take advantage of this scheme, which provides an incredible opportunity to boost the arts, develop our cultural heritage, attract investment and improve quality of life across the district. Too often the arts are overlooked but in fact they produce a huge amount of value for communities and we must do what we can to maintain and grow them as a part of our shared society”.

Well-done to Newcastle Community Cinema

Councillor Patrick brown has expressed his praise and congratulations to the Newcastle Community Cinema, which launched its first ever film festival last Friday.

Councillor Brown, who spoke at the launch along with councilors from several parties said: “It is wonderful what the Newcastle Community Cinema team has been able to accomplish, in providing a authentic and entertaining cinematic experience in Newcastle.

“People often underestimate the value of initiatives like this, in terms of bringing people together and contributing to good community relations. ‘The Newcastle Rock Pool’, which was highlighted at the festival on Friday, is another example that produces tremendous hidden value in the Newcastle area. It’s vitally important that our new council steps forward and supports these assets however it can”.