Creative Centenaries to embark on major cultural heritage programme in 2016

The Nerve Centre’s Creative Centenaries project has secured support from the Heritage Lottery Fund to embark on an exciting cultural heritage programme during 2016, which will explore key events of the Decade of Centenaries including the Easter Rising and Battle of the Somme.

The Creative Centenaries programme will include a major exhibition to tour between Derry~Londonderry, Belfast and Dublin, comparing life 100 years ago with modern-day values and ideals.

A regional events programme will see arts and cultural organisations deliver talks, tours, music, drama, film and festival events, while an outreach strand will use creativity and new technologies to engage young people and adults in school and community settings.

David Lewis, Director of Communications and Digital Content at the Nerve Centre, said: 'The Nerve Centre is delighted to have secured the support of HLF to help bring this project to life. The aim of Creative Centenaries is to shine a light on our past in order to better understand some of the defining moments of our history.

‘We are looking forward to working with a wide range of fantastic partners including National Museums Northern Ireland, PRONI, Libraries NI, Linen Hall Library, BBC and many others.'

Paul Mullan, Head of HLF Northern Ireland, said: 'Using money raised by players of the National Lottery, this fantastic project will help people learn much more about the key events of the last century.  It will create a deeper understanding of how these events have defined, shaped and continue to influence our society today.

To date the Creative Centenaries project has developed a range of award-winning innovative resources around the Decade of Centenaries including curriculum-linked graphic novels, 3D animations and a suite of iBooks on the events of 1916.

The Creative Centenaries project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Derry City and Strabane District Council and the Community Relations Council.

If you would like to get involved in the project or share your plans, contact Niall Kerr: info@creativecentenaries.org or tel: 028 7126 0562.