Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
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Arts Infrastructure

Government has allocated £18m for arts infrastructure, primarily in Belfast, underlining government’s strategy to encourage arts and culture to lead the way in the city's social and economic regeneration.  The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) are working with a number of arts organisations to deliver the world class arts and cultural facilities that Belfast needs and deserves.

Grand Opera House

Photograph of Grand Opera House
A major redevelopment (Act11) of its facilities costing £9 million was officially opened on 20 October 2006.  This development will ensure that the Grand Opera House Opens new window continues to delight audiences for many years to come. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) contributed £1.45 million for the purchase of the site and allocated a further £2.5 million to the new building. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) awarded £2 million from the Lottery Fund.

Lyric Theatre

The Lyric Theatre Opens new window is in a very dilapidated state of repair and DCAL has awarded up to £6 million to redevelop the theatre in Ridgeway Street. The Arts Council has awarded a further £2 million from the Lottery Fund. Over the years the Lyric has nurtured the talents of some of Northern Ireland’s most gifted artists.  The spectacular new theatre will increase capacity from 300 to 400 seats and provide a new studio space and restaurant facility.

Old Museum Arts Centre

Photograph of Arts Minister Edwin Poots with two archeologists on the site of the new Old Museum Arts Centre, Cathedral Quarter
The Old Museum Arts Centre (OMAC) Opens new window is widely recognised as Northern Ireland’s contemporary arts centre.  It currently occupies a dilapidated building in College Square North, Belfast which houses a 90-seat auditorium for touring productions and limited gallery space. On 6 March 2006 Minister David Hanson MP announced that a new arts centre in the Cathedral Quarter area of Belfast would replace the existing Old Museum Arts Centre. It will be the biggest addition to the cultural heart of Belfast since the Odyssey opened in 2001. The new building will house a 320-seat theatre and a 150 seat studio space. DCAL has provided in-principle funding of £4 million and the Arts Council has awarded £4.25 million. Laganside has committed the value of the site.

Crescent Arts Centre

Picture of the Crescent Arts Centre
From drama and verbal arts to dance and from Tai Chi to popular and classical guitar, it is all available at the Crescent Arts CentreOpens new window. However, the Crescent is increasingly falling into a state of disrepair with only 50% of the building useable due to dereliction/deterioration.  It competed for funding in the 2003 BBC ‘Restoration’ Series, unfortunately without success.  DCAL has provided in-principle funding of £2.5 million towards the cost of restoration. The Arts Council has awarded £1.2 million from the Lottery fund.
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