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Status
Received: on time
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Income
£1.7K
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Spending
£9.4K
Public benefits
Greater appreciation of heritage arts and culture enriches the lives and general happiness of the general public. Art and literature can bring gifts of education, wellbeing, solace and even inspiration for participants. Also the provision of accessible, free, cultural events encourages people to come out of their houses and meet others - which
combats social exclusion and sets many on the path to new friendships. Because the AE Russell heritage has such broad appeal it can be enjoyed by people from very different backgrounds - this gives people something they can share across otherwise divided communities. When people come together across a divided area there can be a more united citizenship and a resurgence of civic pride. The benefits above are evidenced in the comments made by people (from all backgrounds) in our various visitor and feedback books from events and exhibitions. We have had hundreds of personal testimonies from individuals who have felt some kind of benefit and/or enjoyment from our activities. There is growing evidence of an enhanced Civic Pride in Lurgan particularly around the towns heritage. Also there is a growing amount of cross-community activity and reaching across traditional divides. The local Council (ABC) is increasingly appreciative of the benefits flowing from our Society's activities and has given us funding and support as well as asking for our advice on various civic initiatives. This is true also for some private sponsors including the Lurgan Credit Union. All of this is evidence that the activities carried out in pursuance of our objectives and purpose are delivering recognised benefits to all sorts of people in the Lurgan and North Armagh area. There is no harm or even negative dimension to anything the Society does. The only potential downside to anything is the normal range of day to day health and safety risks - which are managed very carefully The benficiaries are the general public in the Lurgan and North Armagh area and beyond. There is also an additional benefit to people in divided communities whose lives can be enriched by the welcoming cross-community nature of our activities. There is no private benefit other than the incidental benefit of enjoying and taking satisfaction in what the Society is doing.
... [more] [less]What your organisation does
We run an Annual Festival which comprises a wide range of artistic literary and cultural events. These include poetry readings, expert lectures on art and heritage, a heritage walking tour of Lurgan and exhibitions of art and culture. We have published a book on AE Russell and Lurgan & North Armagh and we staged a major cultural and artistic
exhibition in Rushmere Shopping Centre which was seen by an estimated 10,000 people. All of our events to date have been accessible and free to the public. In addition the heritage of George Russell reveals a high-achieving figure of international standing from Lurgan in whom people of all ages and from all backgrounds can take pride. Expositions of Russell's achievements and thinking via events and publications can boost civic pride and bring people together across the community. The Festival is attended by people from different community backgrounds who can enjoy something together in the heritage of George Russell. We have also worked with ABC Council on the evaluation of the potential for literary heritage tourism in the Lurgan/Armagh/ABC area. Our scoping document is attached to show just one example of how our society is advancing our literary purpose in the area. Our events have been staged in a wide range of venues, hospitality and civic, but also including such places as GAA clubs and Orange halls.
... [more] [less]The charity’s classifications
- The advancement of citizenship or community development
- The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science
- The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity
Who the charity helps
- General public
- Interface communities
- Voluntary and community sector
How the charity works
- Arts
- Cross-border/cross-community
- Cultural
- Education/training
- General charitable purposes
- Heritage/historical
