AQW 36732/11-15


Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry


Tabled Date: 30/09/2014
Answered On Date: 10/10/2014
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail her Department’s role in the Ballymena Business Centre initiative to provide twenty arts and craft businesses five months free retail space in Ballymena town centre; and whether there are plans to encourage this initiative beyond the Ballymena area.


Answer:
The Ballymena Business Centre initiative has received funding from my Department’s Creative Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF), which is administered by the Arts Council:
Finance Year
Organization Name
Programme
Grant Amount
Project Description
2014-2015
Ballymena Business Centre Ltd
Creative Industries
£20,000
Creative Incubation Space - Ballymena Business Centre will provide 2000 sq. ft. of retail and exhibition space in Ballymena town centre, free trading for a period of months inclusive of rent, rates and service charge.
With regard to plans to encourage this initiative beyond the Ballymena area, an evaluation of project activities and supported outcomes is a requirement for all grant recipients. The outcomes and learning from this project will be captured and the Arts Council and other sectoral organisations, such as Craft NI, can use this insight to inform future initiatives elsewhere.