Culture Minister, Carál Ní Chuilín, was in Derry today for the launch of “A Stitch in Time,” the first cultural strategy for the Outer West Neighbourhood Renewal Area (NRA).
From left, Sinn MLA Maeve McLaughlin and Culture Minister Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín at today’s launch in Rosemount.
Speaking at a packed Brooke Park Leisure Centre in Rosemount, the Minister paid tribute to the community for their work in developing the strategy.
She said: “I have been impressed and inspired by the talent, creativity and commitment of your community and cultural leaders.
“When a community comes together to identify its own needs and to develop its own solutions, the results can be very powerful.
“I hope to see Outer West as a vibrant connected community, alive with cultural activity.
“A place where tourists will want to visit and creative businesses can flourish.
“At its heart, a cultural hub which includes a digital training suite providing local residents and pupils with opportunities to develop skills and attain accredited qualifications in digital and creative technologies in the heart of their community.
The “Stitch in Time” cultural strategy takes its name from both the old proverb and Derry’s newest iconic public artwork, the neon sign on the Rosemount Shirt Factory.
Ms Ní Chuilín added: “Perhaps, just as Tim Etchell’s iconic ‘Stitch in Time’ sign lights the way to the Outer West Community, your ‘Stitch in Time’ strategy can light the way to your vision of a Confident, Creative and Connected Community.
The ‘Stitch in Time’ cultural strategy is a five year plan containing the objectives to provide greater opportunities for local people to participate in cultural activities.
The aim of the strategy is to connect the community, create new cultural places, build on current capacity, increase cultural participation and build on the pathways for employment.
An extensive consultation process was undertaken to develop the cultural strategy for the Outer West NRA. This included a conference in October 2013, stakeholder meetings, targeted focus groups and a public meeting in December 2013.
Each of the four neighbourhood renewal areas in Derry has their own cultural strategies.
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