Speaking during the ceremony today at the Lyric site on Ridgeway Street, Minister McCausland said: “The unveiling today of the Threshold Stone, highlights the progress that has been made on the construction of the new Lyric Theatre. My Department has committed over £9million of funding for the Theatre. This new building will have an impact on cultural, artistic and creative life not just in Belfast but throughout Northern Ireland and beyond. Next week I will be opening the new £1.2million extension at the Waterside Theatre in Londonderry. Clearly DCAL is making a significant investment in arts and cultural infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
“This will contribute to a cultural renaissance across the province. It is essential that we nurture the wealth of artistic talent which we have here in Northern Ireland. Investment in culture and the arts brings many dividends, including their contribution to physical, economic and social regeneration”.
Construction began on the Lyric project in March 2009 and the anticipated completion date is March 2011.
The Minister added : “The Lyric is one of Northern Ireland’s most widely recognised Theatres. It has been a springboard for many artists from Northern Ireland and I am confident that this tradition will continue well into the future when the new Lyric opens for business.
“I look forward to seeing the new Lyric Theatre and the opening performance when the building opens in 2011.”
The Lyric Theatre project involves the complete rebuild of the theatre on its existing site at Ridgeway Street, Belfast. The new theatre will include increased capacity from 300 to 400 seats, a new studio with flexible performance space, improved backstage facilities for staff and artists and improved front of house facilities.
The cost of the project is £17.85million and the main funders are DCAL, Arts Council Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council. Lyric have undertaken a successful fund-raising campaign and have raised over £5million to date towards the project.
Notes to Editors:
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