LONDONDERRY has the infrastructure to become a European City of Culture and the Arts if it was properly marketed, the manager of The Playhouse, Naill McCaughan, has claimed.
Having recently joined the Board of the Chamber of Commerce - which in itself is a first for arts in Northern Ireland - Niall believes that culture and arts can be a major economic driver for the city.
"I make no bones about it, this city has a repu
tation for the arts and culture which people don't realise. I come from the Glens of Antrim, and when I say 'I'm going up to Derry to work' they say 'They are great singers there' or 'They are great at drama', or whatever, and yet it is something that we don't brand properly.
"A few years ago I was horrified that Belfast was named for European City of Culture, because Belfast and culture to me don't sit hand in hand," said Niall.
"What I have said and I've said it publicly, is that there is no reason why Derry in 2020 or whatever, couldn't put its hat in the ring, because we actually have a strong arts infrastructure here and it has all been grassroots level."
Highlighting The Playhouse, the Verbal Arts Centre, the Nerve Centre, An Galereas, and the Millennium Forum, Niall continued: "We actually have a unique infrastructure, and a lot of it is very compact too. What's unusual here about the arts in Derry is that a lot of it is all-Ireland leading arts centres.
"It's not small arts events for small local groups, there is something here which is unique, for example, the Verbal Arts Centre was the first centre of its time to focus on the spoken word, while the Nerve Centre was Oscar-nominated for a number of films, while The Playhouse is probably one of the best known community art centres in Ireland. The Millenium Forum was a purpose built theatre, and all these things can come together."
He said he thought others beginning to realise the city's potential: "That's why the chamber asked me to set up a task force to look at culture and tourism in the city, when I joined its council. That has come to an end at the moment and we are hoping to put forward a strategy for the arts and culture. It can become a major economic dividend in the future.
He believes the city already has some of that branding, and it can be built on.
"We don't do that. When you go on the walls in the morning the number of tourists there at the moment is phenomenal, but I think what we have lacked is a cultural strategy. It needs to exist to bring this together and help brand the city.
"In general, I think we should drive towards branding the city as a centre of culture. We have the bones of it, and if you look around the city the big infrastructre projects are all to do with culture and arts."
