Dundonald Art Corridor, a street art, poetry and youth linked community initiative has won a Power NI £1000 Brighter Communities funding grant to help further revitalise the Dundonald Village area.
The volunteer group is one of three across Northern Ireland to receive the funding as part of a Brighter Communities special £3K Summer funding pot rolled-out as part of leading energy company Power NI’s Brighter Communities initiative.
Founded by local man Colin Pidgeon whose idea and concept has brought together over 800 local people to create a 10 wall street gallery featuring 21 ‘frames’ of ever changing art. Art concepts are created at 10 different zones located around the village crossroads area where Ballyregan Road and Church Road intersect the Newtownards Road.
The Art Corridor also organises a poetry wall, a dedicated space for disability and special needs art as well as retaining an ‘artist-in-residence’ to manage the planning and creation of the group’s extensive outside art scape.
Working with Dundonald Primary School’s Rights Respecting Council the group are using their Power NI Brighter Communities grant to convert one of their street gallery zones close to the village shops into a Garden of Sanctuary for local people to rest up and enjoy the art, flowers and plants that surround them.
Colin Pidgeon picks up the story:
“This area was originally a piece of vacant ground and we added lots of visual wall art to revitalise and regenerate the area. This next phase funded by Power NI will complete our envisaged plan to create a peaceful garden zone.
“We’re involving P7 pupils from our local primary school to plant up pots and holders purchased from our local Men’s Shed group to get the space looking colourful and visually appealing for everyone in the community to enjoy. We’d like to thank Power NI for this invaluable Brighter Communities grant – it really will make an incredible difference to the everyday lives of local people.”
Congratulating Dundonald Art Corridor on their award Gemma-Louise Bond, Senior Sponsorship & Events Executive at Power NI said, “This volunteer group really knits together the whole community in the Dundonald village area from older people to schools, youth groups and local businesses. Its stunning art formats and other events and projects are making the area a place for residents and shop owners to be justly proud of. We wish them good luck for ongoing future initiatives.”
Wilson Nesbitt are hosting a World webinar series which looks at the city’s businesses, organisations and locale, framing it as the best place to work, invest and grow.
9th Jul 2021
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