Margaret Ritchie sees mural artists at work

Northern Ireland’s famous wall murals can play a part in giving new life and identity to communities, Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said today.

The Minister was speaking during a visit to the Smithsonian Institution’s Folklife Festival taking place in Washington DC, where she saw five of Northern Ireland’s leading wall artists at work.

The National Mall in front of the famous Capitol Building has been taken over to showcase the best of Northern Ireland’s rich and diverse culture and folk life.

Prominent among the other exhibits and artists is a replica of a two-storey house which is being transformed by two striking wall murals.

Brothers Tom and William Kelly and their friend Kevin Hasson from Derry, collectively known as the “Bogside Artists”, are recreating their famous “Peace” mural. The mural – the original was painted in Derry in July 2004 – depicts a dove of peace and will occupy one of the 30-foot high gable ends.

One the other gable, East Belfast Muralists, David ‘Dee’ Craig and Rachel Sinnomon will create a collage showing scenes from Belfast’s rich industrial heritage.

Commenting on the role that murals can play, the Minister said: “Over the last ten years, new non-threatening murals have become a major attraction for tourists and visitors to Northern Ireland. Many of these visitors come from the USA and I am glad to be here today to show visitors to the Folklife Festival the way that Northern Ireland is changing.

“Murals have an important place in the culture of both communities in the North but for too long they have focussed on sectarianism and racism, on cultural aggression rather than on cultural celebration. This is slowly beginning to change. The 'Re-imaging Communities Programme', a £3.3m scheme launched in July 2006, aims to replace paramilitary murals and emblems with more positive images that allow local people to express their culture and identity in a non-threatening way.

“The murals being created by this talented team in Washington are an excellent example of how our murals can and must change to reflect our new political realities.

“The programme is co-ordinated by the Arts Council and has the support of a range of government departments and agencies including my own department.”

Around 160 people are participating in the Festival from 27 June – 8 July which aims to tell American visitors about Northern Ireland’s contemporary culture and traditions.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The Renewing Communities Programme is supported by the Office of First and Deputy First Minister, Department for Social Development, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the International Fund for Ireland.