Working Together
Posted: Wednesday 15th Feb 2012
The mural was the result of a four month multi-cultural integration programme commissioned by LORAG and designed by ArtstEka’s Cultural Coach Project Manager, Niamh Flanagan. Project partners included Kylie Knocker, play worker at LORAG, Lisburn artist, Ali Park and Sorina Toma from Bryson Intercultural, formerly the Multi-Cultural Resource Centre who supported the integration of the Roma children into the project and provided translation and other support.
The brightly coloured mural was installed on the Lagan river side of the fabulous Shaftesbury Community and Recreation Centre and reflects the cultural diversity of the area and the children’s interpretation of life in the Lower Ormeau area.
During the ArtsEkta programme, the children, ranging in age from six to eleven years learned about the cultures and traditions in each other’s communities, sang songs together in the English, Irish and the Romanian languages and made other visual art pieces including an Indian Rangoli piece.
Niamh Flanagan said “since October, the children, have come together every Tuesday night to participate in a variety of arts, music and cultural workshops which have culminated in the design and painting of this mural depicting what the children think of life on the Ormeau Road. The mural is large, colourful and bold and the citizens of Belfast will be able to see it as they walk along the path or row on the Lagan. Through the process of designing, drawing and painting the mural, the children have learned about each other’s traditions and cultures, new friendships have been forged and hopefully it has created a deeper sense of belonging for all the children. The children are rightly proud of this large scale mural which has been finished off to a highly professional specification".
For more information on how you get can involved with ArtsEkta's Cultural Coach programme please contact us on 028 90231381 or email info@artsekta.org.uk
