Council Report Strong Community And Culture Performance

At this evening’s Leisure and Development Committee meeting, councillors received a comprehensive update from the Head of Community and Culture outlining recent achievements and the priorities guiding work for the 2025–26 period.

The presentation highlighted strong progress across the past year. More than 73,000 people visited the council’s arts centres, while 32,800 were welcomed to the borough’s accredited museums. Over 250 community and voluntary groups benefited from more than £480,000 in funding, and more than 16,000 advice sessions helped residents secure nearly £2.9 million in additional benefits.

Members also heard that 62 projects had been delivered across the borough, involving over 11,400 participants and monitored through more than 100 key performance indicators. The PCSP’s disability hate crime awareness resource—noted as the only one of its kind in Northern Ireland—was recognised as a runner-up at the PSNI Problem Solving Awards. Progress continues on the second stage of the Ballycastle Museum capital development, and the council reaffirmed its position as the first in Northern Ireland to adopt and implement a formal memorial policy, with training provided to staff and stakeholders.

Looking ahead through the 2025–26 cycle, the department set out its targets for the year: the allocation of £300,000 in grants to more than 200 groups, the delivery of 86 projects, and engagement with an estimated 68,000 participants. Work is ongoing to secure National Lottery Heritage Fund support for the next phase of the Ballycastle Museum project, alongside consultation on new Community Development and Cultural Arts & Heritage strategies.

Further updates were provided on thematic priorities, including securing approximately £1 million in external funding to date, delivering initiatives focused on poverty reduction, supporting asylum seekers and refugees, and advancing the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls programme. Continued emphasis is also being placed on strengthening the creative industries and enhancing health, wellbeing and social inclusion programmes.

An October snapshot of arts activity for 2025–26 demonstrated sustained momentum, with more than 30,000 attendances at arts venues, 205 events delivered, strong overall footfall and support for 148 local creative practitioners. Community arts engagement also remains robust, with over 5,200 participants and 358 young people supported so far this year.