New Lodge Arts
New Lodge Arts is a thriving arts organisation providing innovative, fun and educational activities that stretch right across the community and political divide in north Belfast. Set up in 2003 by Ashton Community Trust, New Lodge Arts has embedded itself at the heart of North Belfast, providing over 800 workshops per year with 2,000 young people participating. With a strong community focus and a passion for supporting the needs of young people within the area, New Lodge Arts provide creative opportunities and challenges that unlock young people’s potential inspiring them to grow and succeed. New Lodge Arts continue to strengthen and develop their annual arts programme in order to tackle the very real issues that affect local young people.
Each year, New Lodge Arts manage a range of projects aimed at meeting the needs of the community and providing opportunities for young people to grow and develop. These projects include:
New Lodge Arts Academy
The Academy will provide a consistent and quality programme of arts activities for children and young people aged 3 to 18 years. Activities will take place on a weekly basis throughout the school year in dance, drama, visual arts, digital arts and event management. The aim of The Academy is to improve participation and increase access to the arts for children and young people from across the Greater New Lodge and neighbouring communities. An End of Year Production incorporating all elements and participants of Arts Academy is produced in June each year.
Stepping Stones
The Stepping Stones programmes is a creative programme for children aged 5-11yrs with emotional, social and behavioural challenges, delivering 135 workshops per year. Children involved are mainly have ASD or ADHD.
Arts Academy – Taster Sessions / Projects
Taster Projects also acts as an entry point for children and young people who may not previously have been engaged in arts-based activities. Taster projects will take place in some of the various centres across north Belfast.
North Belfast Community Pride Programme
– Spring Festival
The festival will focus on building good relations among communities, providing an opportunity for celebration.
– Summer Academy
New Lodge Arts plan to deliver a minimum of four weeklong programme of activities in early August – 2x Junior Academy (in partnership with C21 Theatre Company) and a Senior Academy and a Digital Art Camp with Giga Training.
– North Belfast Lantern Festival
The largest annual event will include an outreach programme and event in a local park. The outreach programme will incorporate a range of activities.
– North Belfast Winter Fest
North Belfast Winter Fest will involve children, young people and their families from across Inner North Belfast.
Summer Camp
Building on the success of previous TBUC programmes, New Lodge Arts will deliver a good relations Summer Camps.
Youth Development
New Lodge Arts will provide support to young people through leadership development opportunities as a progression route from participation. The programme will include OCN qualifications suited to the needs and interests of the young people.
Summer Fun Day
The Event Management group plan to manage a Summer Family Fun Day in the Waterworks Park. The project will include a Treasure Hunt, Arts and Crafts, Refreshments and Performers.
New Lodge Festival
Support the delivery of the New Lodge Festival – working in partnership with local organisations to deliver 35-40 events during August.
Adult Programmes – a range of creative projects targeted at adults including Tuesday Drawing Studio, Craft Classes, Guitar Class, monthly workshops, one off tasters, creative projects in nursing homes and a support group for adults bereaved by suicide.
The Studio – Digital Art/Music Studio space – we are currently developing to include music, digital art and digital fabrication.
The Agency
The Agency is a creative entrepreneurship programme enabling young people aged 15 to 25 from some of the most underserved areas in the UK to generate social change projects based on the needs they identify in their own communities. The Agency was originally developed by the Brazilian theatre maker, activist and journalist Marcus Faustini in the favelas of Rio De Janeiro. New Lodge Arts are a UK partner on this programme led by Battersea Arts Centre and Contact Theatre Manchester.
Partnership Projects
– Feile an Phobail – Summer Programme
– C21 Theatre Company – Summer Camps
– Uniting Communities Programme – partnership with Ashton – creative programme for young people to promote positive mental health (should funding come out again)
– Ulster University – creative arts programme / Ceramics training for artists
Contact: Anne Delaney, Arts Programme & Operations Manager, New Lodge Arts, Ashton Centre, 5 Churchill Street, Belfast BT15 2BP. Telephone: 028 90742255 or email anne.delaney@ashtoncentre.com
Website: https://www.newlodgearts.com/
Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/NewLodgeArtsBelfast/
twitter.com/NewLodgeArts