The Minister was speaking at an evening reception to launch the exhibition ‘Defend and Inspire’ which has been produced by the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society (UAHS) to celebrate the organisation’s 40th anniversary.
Arlene Foster said: “My Department has enjoyed a very positive partnership agreement with the UAHS for many years and I am delighted to mark this special anniversary. I am particularly interested in the Defend and Inspire exhibition because it reflects the society’s aims to promote the appreciation and enjoyment of architecture from the prehistoric to the present, and encourages its conservation.
“I know that the exhibition will travel around Northern Ireland and I hope that as many people as possible from the local communities will visit to see the good work that has been done since the Society was formed.”
Notes to Editors:
- The Ulster Architectural Heritage Society was founded in 1967 to promote an appreciation of architectural heritage in the 9 counties of Ulster. Its members work to preserve the physical heritage from prehistoric times to the present.
- UAHS and Environment & Heritage Service share very similar mission statements and have worked in partnership for many years. Since the late 1980’s the Department has worked in an increasingly formalised way with the UAHS.
- The society offers practical advice to its members and is engaged in an educational programme to raise awareness of the built heritage in collaboration with the education & Library boards and heritage agencies.
- DOE has a formal agreement known as the ‘buildings at risk project’. This aims to identify and then tackle the issues posed by historic buildings and monuments which are at risk.
- All media enquiries to DOE Press Office, tel: 028 90540003. Out of office hours contact the EIS Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440.
