Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
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Arts and Creativity

Arts

Photograph of audience in a theatre enjoying a performance
The arts embrace a wide variety of activities including music, opera, dance, literature, craft and visual arts. Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL) aims to increase participation in and improve access to the arts as well as enhancing the quality of the Arts Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

The Department also promotes Northern Ireland arts activities at International Events.  The Rediscover Northern Ireland programme is funding an extensive programme of events in Washington DC from March-July 2007.

DCAL supports the arts through the Arts Council Opens new window, which provides assistance to Northern Ireland’s diverse arts programming.

DCAL also supports the work of Arts and Business NI Opens new window to help promote business sponsorship of the arts in Northern Ireland.

The Community Festivals Fund aims to improve the capacity of community festivals and make them more sustainable.  With effect from 1 April 2008 the fund is administered by Local Councils.

Creativity

Creativity Picture
Creativity and the Creative Industries have an increasingly important role to play in the growth of a modern, knowledge-based economy in Northern Ireland. The Departments of Culture, Arts and Leisure; Enterprise Trade and Investment; Employment and Learning; and Education are partners in 'Unlocking Creativity' the key initiative driving government policy in this area.  An Inter-Departmental Creativity Group has been established to co-ordinate activities.

DCAL supports the film and television sectors through the Northern Ireland ScreenOpens new window, which is responsible for the development of the film, television and related new media industries and audiovisual culture in Northern Ireland.

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