A new Derry community initiative has been given a major funding boost in an attempt to change behaviours and attitudes to climate and waste in the North West.
The National Lottery Community Fund announced the £150,000 of funding to North West Play Resource Centre (Playhouse) to lead on an ambitious arts-based community project.
The project called Artitude: Climate, Culture, Circularity is funded from the second round of grants from the Climate Action Fund.
The Playhouse will work with partners Zero Waste North West, Northern Ireland Resources Network, Queens University and Derry City and Strabane District Council to use the arts to coordinate and deliver a programme of activities over the next 18 months.
The project will cumulate in an Artitude Festival as part of the 10th-anniversary celebrations of Derry and Strabane’s UK City of Culture in 2023.
This will include public campaigns, a volunteer programme, a conference to share learning and the publishing of useful resources.
Kevin Murphy, Chief Executive of The Playhouse explained: “We’re delighted to get this National Lottery grant because the climate emergency demands that we change our way of life, and the challenge is that people think this is a negative thing for them.
"This funding will allow us to use the arts to help change that story by helping people make choices which will improve their quality of life and support climate action.
"We will also use the arts to bring organisations, networks and people across the Derry City and Strabane District together to collaborate, pool resources and build a committed net-zero movement.
“It is still in an early stage of planning, but thanks to this grant, we are the first arts organisation in Northern Ireland to recruit a Climate Action Officer, who will lead this project, and use the arts to connect everyone who is already involved in climate action, building a calendar of events that increase awareness and finding practical actions that can be taken.
“Research gathered over the next 18 months will result in a new commitment and plan for the area, helping us and our partners to make a real change, building on us being the first Zero Waste Region in the UK and Ireland.
"This project will give a clear path for the future and help people who want to take action to know what to do. As a community, we are positively choosing to help sustain our planet’s climate.”
The funding boost comes as the latest research from The National Lottery Community Fund shows 50% of adults in Northern Ireland are worried about how climate change will affect their community, and 81% felt communities were responsible for tackling it.
Kate Beggs, The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland Director said: “We know communities have a big role to play in responding to the climate emergency. That’s why, thanks to National Lottery players, we are pleased to be supporting community-led action to address waste and consumption.
"These projects will bring people together to create a lower waste society, that will not only help us get to net zero, but also support communities to prosper and thrive.”
