My personal and professional gratitude to everyone, over all the years.
In 1999, Martin Lynch had another of his great ideas. At this time, the creativity was sparking in the Community Arts Forum offices, with Martin leading a creative revolution in the town and inspiring community groups to write and perform dramas about their lives and their ambitions for them. Martin was constantly looking for funding and the European Peace Funds had been announced. A funding initiative that would hopefully cement the fledgling Good Friday Agreement of 1998, into the hearts and minds of civil society and offer everyone a platform for progress. So, having investigated, Martin thought “ Why not take advantage of all this peace funding for consortium groups and build a new network of community arts and community development organisations across Belfast?”
And, so, after wrangling a grouping from all arts and parts of the city, he determinedly brought together leaders from loyalist and republican areas, unionist and nationalist and representatives of minority ethnic groups as well. Thus New Belfast Community Arts Initiative was conceived, somewhat immaculately, and duly signed into existence on 22nd December 1999.
Just two days later, on Christmas Eve 1999, my own father Jim, took his final breaths, aged just 59. He had suffered from the most inhumane of medical conditions, leaving him trapped, fully-conscious, in his totally disabled body, for many years. I had been his carer for 7 years at that point and had dreaded this day. However it was of course a welcome release from torment for a beautiful man who had suffered so terribly for those years at the close of a millennium.
As the new century and millennium kicked off, Belfast was emerging from the pall of conflict and into the political pressure cooker of peace and hard won progress. Or at least that was the hope. And whilst optimism was abundant, there was growing evidence that financial support might be too, as Martin Lynch has since remarked about this time, when the Labour government in Britain ‘turned on the taps” - and funding finally flowed into so many arts and parts of this wee corner of the world.
And as I returned to the world of work and creativity, opportunities started to show themselves. As a musician, I was playing for Tinderbox, Kabosh, Youth Lyric among others, as a stage manager for Belfast Children's Festival and others and then, of course, well, I got a gig with New Belfast Community Arts Initiative.
New Belfast had a new coordinator, with Lizzie Devlin (now a longstanding stalwart in the Arts Council) having been replaced by the ever-thoughtful Joe Sheehy (RIP) in early 2001. Joe offered a young skinny me an opportunity - taking groups on song-writing workshops. Joe was aided and abetted now by one Geoff Harden - Belfast’s own ‘whispering bob’, a man with a plummy Home Counties voice who established the Sunflower Folk Club and was a mainstay of the Belfast Folk Festival, having run the Medway Folk Club in Kent for many years in the late 60s and 70s. And of course, there was a rather quirky American who ran a poetry programme and could be heard chatting animatedly about anything and everything from Wisconsin to Belfast and back - Josh Schultz. Also in that team at that time, was a fresh-faced artist called Sally Young and a rather spritely Grainne Kielty. Of course, there were many others but these folk were the mainstays back then.
And as Belfast and the North, contorted in political stand-offs, street violence, and finger-pointing, the arts organisations in Belfast were showing citizens what they had missed over all the darker days. Music, visual arts, theatre, street spectacle, festivals, ideas, poetry, film - it was all happening within communities not previously known for their artistic prowess perhaps. New Belfast wasn’t just a community arts organisation - it was now a tangible shift that everyone in the city could begin to feel.
I had been assisting Joe Sheehy, Geoff and Josh, and their new chair Joe McVey, re-developing the basis of how a city-wide consortium could leverage greater creative and community benefits and with our success, I managed to secure the role of programme director and indeed, I’ve been privileged to hold that role (albeit the name has changed) ever since.
Births and deaths, birthdays and anniversaries. The world has so many cyclic turns and twists but still keeps on spinning.
And in the 25 years, New Belfast became Community Arts Partnership, after the merger with the CAF back in 2011, there have of course been many births - of people who would grow up to enjoy making poetry or art in their school or community centre, but also of programmes and projects, ideas and organisations. All creating new connections as the tissues and fibres of Belfast’s broken bones and Northern Ireland’s divided communities started to knit and heal.
And of course, over that time , there were great losses too.
If the larger than life Terri Hooley is the Godfather of Punk (a monicker he refutes while grinning broadly … One Love Terri me ol’ mucker) then Geoff Harden was Godfather of Folk. Sadly, Geoff left us in 2006 - but we have a Music Studio named after him (and a special donor from years ago) to remember him - Harden-Nie Studio in the ARC (arts resource centre) in Cathedral Quarter.
Olivia Butler, who ran the Poetry in Motion Schools programme. Anne Quail, who supported every visual arts project that the organisation ever did, right up until her passing in 2023; Ash Reynolds, a powerhouse of positivity and generosity, who forged a creative community around her own terminal illness in 2020. And dear Tracey Crossan (nee McVerry), the effervescent smiler who supported and co-ordinated so many projects over the last 25 years with us, and whom we sadly lost only a few short months ago. And my dear colleague , Marilyn Hyndman, just a few short years ago.
But we gained so many friends and comrades from hundreds of organisations, clubs, groups and places along the way, who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us. Friends who continue to make a creative impact here - like :
Patrons and Trustees: Martin Lynch, Joe McVey, Trish O’Kane Eileen Branagh, Darren Ferguson, Patricia Cooke, John Dean, Heather Floyd, Helen Forsythe, Pauline Hadaway, Kate Ingram, Leeann Kelly, James Kerr, Nathan Kripz, Bridget Lindsay, Deirdre Mackel, Frank McGlone, Joan Dempster (nee Montgomery), George Newell, Katrina Newell, Gavin O’Connor, Deirdre Robb, Janice Smith, Syd Trotter, Lesley Wilson - who all ensured the governance was there to continue our workover all the years.
Colleagues, artists, producers, mentees and friends:
Francesca Biondi, Patricia Lavery (Crossey), Chelley McLear (who tragically lost her son, the youngest ever winner of the New Belfast Poetry Slam, beating a roomful of adults to the prize), Ken Armstong, Julie Anne Graham, Gabri Gomez Fernandez, Joanne Hamilton (nee Barnett), Wendy Blemings, Sheelagh Colclough, Deirdre McKenna, Colleen Coyle, Jennifer Trouton, Seamus Heaney (RIP), Frank Holmes, Jim McKevitt (RIP), Michael Baker (RIP), Fra Gunn (YNWA), Cora Wong, Alacoque Davey, Anu Sundaralingam, Sinead Morrissey, Jani Melia, Dr. Damien Mills, Tracey Gallogly, Michael McNulty, John Baucher, Louise Boylan, Keith Connolly, Mark Madden, Ciara Diamond Le Velly, Grainne Kielty, Jane Lavery, Medbh McGuckian, Aidan Molloy, Claire Concannon, Lucy Turner, Jane Grace, Gary McFeeter (RIP), Brian Bailey (RIP), Susan Millar, Fiona Ni Mhaoilir, Natasha Cuddington, Adrian Rice, Matthew Rice, Jim Johnston, Tony Walsh (Longfellow), Teresa Kane, T McMeekin, Therese Gorman, Gwen Stevenson, Caroline Shimmons, Julie McGowan, Suzii MacKenzie, Sue Steging, Stuart Sloan, Stephen Sexton, Dr Stephanie Conn, Dr Shelley Tracey, Stephen Biggie Bigmore, Stacey Burke, Sean McKernan, John Duncan, A Bernot, A Burnt, A Cuperus, A Davey, A Doherty, A Donnelly, A Hill, A J Callaghan, A Liesching, Anne M MCManus, Ali Mackenzie, A McCullough, Amira McDonagh, Anne McKay, Anne McManus, A Milligan, Ann Quail, Ash Reynolds, Adrian Rice, A S Khan, A Sharma, Anu Sundaralingam, Aaron Bell, Aaron Cleary, Abby Oliveira, Adam Turkington, Adam Warren, Adeline Henry, Agnes Mullan, Aidan Molloy, Aidan Mulholland, Aislinn Hagan, Alberto Clerencia Ortega, Ali Fell, Alice Pasquini, Alice Quigley, Alison Boyd, Alison Coulter, Amanda Finch, Amber Gilmore-Quail, Andrew Tinney, Andy Council, Aneta Murawska, Angela George, Angeline King, Ann McCall, Anna O'Kane, Annatomix, Anne-Marie Mullan, Anne Marie Taggart, Anne McCann, Anne McMaster, Anne O'Kane, Ann Quail, Arlene Marks, Armita R Shanbhogue, Christine Boyle, Astrid Conville, Ben Allen, Brian Bailey (RIP), B Cullen, B Hamill, B I McMichael, Brenda Liddy, Bobbi Rae Purdy, Brendan Quinn, B Smyth, Benen Dillon, Bernie McGill, Beth McComish, Bill Gilmore, Blaze FX, Bob Rainey, Brenda Graham, Brendan Murtagh, Brendan Popplestone, Brian Byrne, Brian J Hennessey, Brian McFeely, Briege McClean, Bruce White, C Agee, C Bonner, C Bowman, , C Brogan, C Brown, C Collins, Claire Concannon, Colleen Coyle, C Devenny, Ciara Diamond Le Velly, C Eardley, C Graham, C Hunter, Caroline Jeffrey, C Kelly, C Lynch, C McCausland, C McDonnell, C McKeown, C McLaughlin, Clare McWilliams, C Moore, C Morrow, C Mullan, C Murphy, Cara O'Donnell, Ciara O'Malley, C Palmer, C Sloan, Cathy Surgeoner, Calvin Goodgame, Caroline McCusker, Caroline Shimmons, Charmaine McMeekin, Charo Lanao-Madden, Christina Angelina, Ciara Campbell, Claire Harkin, Clare Lawson, Clare Mc Comish, Clare Mc Williams, Clinton Kirkpatrick, Clodagh Lavelle, Colin Ash, Colin Dardis, Colin Davidson, Colin Hassard, Colin McGookin, Colin Reid, Consuela Ortiz, Cyril Kelly, D Bonner, D Cathbertson, D Caulfield, D Docherty, D Eggs, D Ennis, D Fowler, Dennis Greig, D Harper, Diane Henshaw, Dave Holden, Deirdre Madden, Deirdre McKenna, Deirdre McManus, D McMurray, D McNally, D Mooney, D Piekaar, D Smith, D Whyte, Daniel Kitchener, Darren Ferguson, Dave Lordan, David Allen, David Cunningham, David Smylie, Dawn Aston, Dean Kane, Debbie Young, Deirdre Alexander, Deirdre Cartmill, Denise Blake, Denzil Browne, Dermot McConaghy, Des Kennedy, Diane Henshaw, Diane Jardel, Diane McCormick, Diane Miller, Diane Morrison, Diane Wilson, Dianne Grimason, Dominic S Berry, Dr Josie Nugent, Dr R Huq, Dylan Quinn, Dympna Curran, Eddie Bannon, E Brown, E Burns, Ed Carroll, E Cartin, E Creen, Elaine Gaston, E Gornall, E Haden, Eamonn Keena, Eileen Branagh, Eiogen Fund, Elaine Duncan, Elaine Liyounssi, Ellen Factor, Ellie Perrin, Emily McDonagh, Emma Hawthorne, Emma Louise Hutchinson, Emma Must, Emma Whitehead, Eoin McGinn, Erika Reid, Esther O’Kelly, Eva F Roa Flores, Eve Williams, Frankie Quinn, F Sweeney, Filippa Seilern Aspang, Fionnuala Duffin, Fionnuala McNicholl, Frank Ormsby, Frank Rafferty, Freya Seren, G Carragher, Geraldine Cooper, Graham Day (RIP), G Gallagher, Grainne Kelly, Geroid MacLochlainn, G Makamanei, Gary McFeeter, Gary McKeever, G McKeown, Gerri Moriarty, Gemma Murray, G Reid, G Rosborough, Gerrard Stratton, Grace Wilder, Gabriel Gomez Fernandez, Gamel Neequaye Dsane Dreph, Gareth Moore, Gavin Ferris, Genevieve Murphy, Gerry Fell, Glen Molloy, Grace McGreevy, Graham Watson, Gus Moore, Gwen Stevenson, H Coppard, H Doherty, Heather Floyd, H Kiani Rad, H McQuaid, Helen Midgley, H Porter, H Reid, Helen Walshaw, Hazel Busby, Heather Douglas, Helena Stuart, Henry Joy, Henry Lo, Ian Fleming, Ivan Frew, Imelda Truesdale, Iolanda Rocha, J A Lynas, J Armstrong, Jane Bailey, J Berry, Jean Bleakney, J Bradbury, J Denton-McComish, J Doran, Jo Egan, J Elliott, J Fairley, J Farrelly, J Fisher, J Fursman, J Healy, J Kelly, J Maher, J McConnell, J McCormick, J McEwen, J McGowan, John McGuckian, J McKeown, J McMenamin, J McVityy, J Owens, Janet Shepperson, J Steadman, J Tiernan, J Tsang, Jacque McNeill, James Curran, James Earley, James Louis Michel, James Micallef Grimaud, Jan Carson, Jasper McKinney, Jennifer Goddard, Jennifer Heron, Jessica Tobin, Jim McCabe, Jim McElroy, Jim McKevitt, Jim Russell, Lowry Grant, Jo Hatty, Jo Prinsen, Joe Doyle, Joe Nawaz, John Brown, John Carden, John Gray, John Mc Gurgan, John Trotter, John Walls, Jon Farrelly, Jonathan Glyde-Bates, Jonathan Hicks, Jonathan McKerr, Jonathan Ryder, Jonathon Kelly, Jordan McCuaig, Jude Fenton, Jude Young, Judith Lunn, Julia Lyn Heatley, Julia Lyn Waters, Julianne Skillen, Julie Pickering, Juliet Turner, Julius Anakaa, K Andrews, K Driscoll, K Duggan, K Ennals, K Flanagan, Ken Haddock, K Hunter, K Kiely, Katherine Kingham, Kanthy Marsh, K McCracken, Kirsty McGuinness, K McMullan, K Plummer, K Quail, K Quigley, K Somasundram, K Stewart, Karin Eyben, Kat St. Angelo, Kate Guelke, Katherine Rupit, Katrina Newell, Katrina Sheena Smyth, Katy Chambers, Kayla Rush, Kayleigh Doughty, Kelly Creighton, Kev Largey, Killian Redmond, L Chung, Lucy Cochrane, Lizzie Devlin, L Fitzsimons, L Graham, L Hanna, L Harrington, Linda Hutchinson, L Magill, Leonie McDonagh, L Schenk, L Stewart, L Taggart, Lucy Turner, Larry Cowan, Laura Nelson, Lauren Martin, Martin Crawford, Leah O'Neill, Leeane Kelly, Lenka Davidkova, Lesley Wilson, Linda McKenna, Lisa Murphy, Lucas Dillon, Lucie Corcoran, Lynda Tavakoli, Lyndsay McVeigh, Lynne Edgar, M Callan, Miriam De Burca, Moyra Donaldson, Peggy Fisher, M Freeman, Michelle Gallen, Michael Hart, M J Reid, M Johnston, Charo Lanao-Madden, Michael MacBroom, Mark Madden, M McCann, M McClure, M Molloy, Mike Moloney, Martin Mooney, Marian Noone (Friz), M Rankin, M Rogers, M Smith, M Smyth, Michelle Wooderson, Mahsa Jahangirpour, Margaret McClean, Maria Teresa Ruiz Cala, Marian Noone, Marie-Loiuse Muir, Marie-Louise McClarey, Marion Clarke, Mark Allsop, Mark Clane, Marta Burgell Alegre, Martelle McPartland, MARTIN CAULEY, Mary Cowan, Mary Jane Jacob, Mathieu Decodts, Matt Faris, Matthew Castleton, Matthew Rice, Matthew Vernon, Maureen Boyle, Mayte Ruiz, Mayte Segura, Mel Bradley, Melinda Ashley Meyer, Michael Bass, Michael Connolly, Michael Monaghan, Michael Smith, Michael Wilson, Michelle Garvey, Miriam Coulter, Morag Donald, Myra Zeph, Ned Jackson, N Arbuthnott, N Armstrong, N Burrowes, Niamh Larkin, N McCauley, N McGrath, N McMillen, N Salih, Nisha Tandon, N Walker, N Woods, Nandipha Jola, Naomi Reid, Natalie Smyth, Natasha Duddy, Nathan Elout-Armstrong, Neal Walker, Neil Decodts, Mattieu Decodts, Niamh Meehan, Nikki Fisher, Nikolay Ivanov, Noel Murphy, Nuala Convery, Olive Broderick, O Hughes, O Murphy, Olga McCrossan, Omar El Masri, Orlaith Cullinane, Paul McMordie, Owen Crawford, P Cunninghan, P Hamill, P Harte, P Johnston, P Lappin, Paul Maddern, P Matthew, P McEneaney, P Meehan, P Milligan, P O'Tuama, Peter Stewart, P Watson, Peter Wilson (Duke Special), Pamela Brown, Patricia Campbell, Patrick Sanders (RIP), Paul Hutchinson, Paul J. Ryding, Paul Kane, Paul McCrory, Paula Rodriguez Dono, Peter Bleakley, Peter E Davidson, Peter White, Phil Nicholls, Mike Moloney, R A Smyth, R Barnett, Ruth Carr, R Cordiner, R Cowley, Rene Greig, R Hussain, R Jaquarello, R Jenkinson, Rachel McCabe, R McCann, R McCullogh, R McGrath, Dr Robbie McVeigh, Robbie Meredith, Ruth Moore, R Naresh, R O'Neill, Ryan O'Reilly, R S MORROW, R Scott, R Skelly, R Walsh, R Watson, R Whyte, Rachael Campbell-Palmer, Rachael Lindsay, Raquel McKee, Richard Campbell, Rita Harkin, Rob Hilken, Robert Hargrove, Roisin Murphy, Roof Repairs, Rory Jones, Rory O'Loughlin, Rosalind Lowry, Ross Thompson, Ruth Boyd, S Bamford, S Barr, Stephen Beggs, Sheena Bleakney, Sheelagh Colclough, S Davies, Sean Fox, S Kerr, S Lewis, S MacAindresea, S McCaffrey, S Millar, S Mitchell, S Morrissey, S Mullan, Stevie Noonan, Sinaead O'Donnell, S O'Neill, S Orr, S Quigley, S Rea, S Safiruddin, S Scott, Shannon Sickels, S Somasundram, S Thompson, Sam Walklett, Steven Watson, Sam Le Bas, Samuel Bates, Samuel McLaren, Sandra Robinson, Sara-Jane Arbury, Seamus Heaney (RIP), Sean Duncan, Sean McCann, Sean McKernan, Seonaid Murray, Sharron Currie, Shea Ross, Sheela Ashburn, Shelley Tracey, Siemens Fin Services, Simon Guyennet, Simon Mills, Sinead Quinn, Skye Bompas, Slaine Browne, Stacey Burke, Stephanie Heckman, Stephen Fagan, Stephen Hayles, Stephen Pritchard, Stephen Sexton, Steven Hadley, Sue Steging, Tanya Askin, T Atkinson, Tracey Doak, T McMaster, T McMeekin, T Owens, Tammy Moore, Tamsin Sharp, Teresa Kane, Tessa Greer, Thomas Manley, Thomas Moreland, Tom Bingle, Tom Cunningham, Tomas Finnegan, Tracey Atkinson, Ursula Burke, Victoria Barkley, V Flores, Verity Peet, Victoria Campbell, Wilson Magwere, Wiiliam Frode de la Foret, William Mitchell, Walter Graham, Wendy Sinnamon, Wilma Kenny, Wendy Robinson, Y Tsang, Yvonne Boyle, Zhenia Mahdi-Lau
Thank you for the wonderful work in a glorious range of settings: - in committee rooms, at rallies, on marches, on projects in every conceivable setting like gazebos in a gale, backrooms of pubs, subways, dilapidated factories, on buses, synagogues, nightclubs, shopping centres, boats, detention centres, doctors surgeries, trains, chapels, cinemas and greenhouses. Of course, there were all the community centres, schools, church halls and nursing homes, never mind the Ulster Halls, Waterfront, Playhouse, Grand Opera House.
Our collective thanks to each and every one of the artists, facilitators, community activists and leaders, enablers, workers and the 1,000s of volunteers who have made the journey possible.
And of course the funders. I pay tribute to their continuing support, guidance and assistance:
To our principal funder, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and their generous support since 2003 and their ceo, the redoubtable Roisin McDonough, who started work in the arts sector almost 25 years ago too
Belfast City Council
Belfast European Partnership (Later Belfast Local Strategy Partnership, then SEUPB)
DCAL
DFC
The Executive Office
Community relations Council
Enkalon Foundation
Esmee Fairbairn
Dept of Foreign Affairs (RoI)
Creative Ireland
Hope for Youth
Joseph Rowntree Trust
Belfast Education and Library Board (now Education Authority)
BBC Children In Need
Laganside Corp
Ortus
Better Belfast
Lloyds Foundation
Building Change Trust
Community Foundation
NICVA
Each and every NI district council, before and after council reorganisations
The National Gallery
The National Trust
Clanmil Housing
Habinteg Housing
Radius Housing
Rural Housing Association
Public Health Authority
Northern Health and Social Care Trust
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Southern Health and Social Care Trust
South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
In total, CAP has supported over 110,000 active participants , 2,500+ volunteers,
Over 3,000 community group projects and 1,125 schools programmes
Over 600 artists and creative producers received over 4,850 artistic assignments, never mind the countless arts, media, and supplies companies that have supported us and whom we’ve supported in turn
Over 250,000 news items of our websites
52 poetry anthologies
11 years of the Seamus Heaney Awards,
6 other publications
4 large scale public sculptures
17 public consultation responses
1 arts funding campaign (ArtsMatterNI)
And thank you today, to the current trustees and staff cohort who enable this organisation to keep moving forward:
Sean McCann, Karen MacFarlane, Philip Campbell,
Josh Schultz, Heather Douglas, Gordon Hewitt, Sally Young, Steven Tunley, Carole Kane
All these folk, these institutions and so many more people within them, provide our momentum and have given Community Arts Partnership the foundation to keep moving ahead and forging new opportunities to connect community and creativity for the decades ahead.
Of course, there is a multitude of others to thank and a legion that took the strain - not least my wife and my kids.
To all of you, each and every one, I thank you for the last 25 years as we look forward to a bright, inclusive and creative future for Community Arts Partnership and all our partners, friends, associates, and hosts.
All the best for 2025
Conor Shields, ceo.
If I've left anyone out, my sincere apologies but 25 years is a long time!!
