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‘Epic’ win for Ballymena Arts Partnership

Thursday, 26 January 2012

Ballymena Mayor, Councillor Hubert Nicholl, with Councillors John Carson and Declan OíLoan, congratulates members of the Ballymena Arts Partnership on their two recent epic Awards.

Ballymena Arts Partnership are celebrating this week after winning not one - but two national Epic Awards.
The Partnership scooped the major prizes at the UK Awards for Excellence in the Arts, including the prestigious People's Choice Awards - for all of Ireland, attracting several thousand votes.
After being shortlisted to the final seven in the All-Ireland category of the 2011 Epic Awards the group were awarded Runners Up.
Ballymena Arts Partnership, beat organisations from Galway, Derry/Londonderry, Belfast and Dublin, and were judged by a panel of experts as an extremely close runner up to the final winners - a fabulous Arts Festival in Dublin.
A reception will be held in London for the winning groups from all over the UK and Ireland.
Judging Panel Chair and Chief Executive of Voluntary Arts UK, Robin Simpson commented: "We have been bowled over by the quality and diversity of entries from all over the UK and Ireland, this proves once again that there are so many excellent and innovative Arts groups doing great things in their communities."
Ballymena Arts Partnership is a group of 15 local arts activists, Councillors and Council Officers. Members range from a voice over artist, a cinema projectionist and a vet.
The group's remit is to further the advancement of Arts and Culture in the Borough and support local arts activity.
The Partnership have launched several new initiatives in the Borough including The Braid Real Music Club, The Braid Comedy Club and Film @The Braid.
Alongside this work they have introduced Arts Bursaries for Young People to encourage their arts practice, a new Bring A Friend Scheme for people who have never attended an arts event before, an exhibition programme for young emerging visual artists and several platforms for local musicians and artists to showcase their work.
Rosalind Lowry, a member of the partnership commented: "Ballymena Arts Partnership are a new initiative by Ballymena Borough Council and we are very proud of the achievements of the group.
“They are setting standards and working extremely hard to provide new arts and cultural opportunities for the people of the Borough so these awards are a great recognition of their achievements.
“The group is an excellent mix of local arts activists and Councillors all working together for the benefit of the Borough."
The awards now categorise Ballymena Arts Partnership as an example of Good Practice in Voluntary Arts, and will enable the group to use the Epic Awards hallmark.
The group will also receive publicity, training and mentoring through the national UK and Ireland Voluntary Arts network and will represent Ireland at future Voluntary Arts events.

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