‘Plantation Town’ project 10k boost

Coleraine Ulster Scots Regeneration Group is one of 19 groups across Northern Ireland awarded grants totalling over £141,000 from the Big Lottery Fund and Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Culture for All programme.

The local group has been awarded £10,000 to run their ‘A Plantation Town’ creative arts project that will involve young people in a drama performance on the historic ramparts in Coleraine. They will re-enact the besieging of Coleraine by the Jacobite army prior to the wider known Siege of Derry in 1689.

This project has been developed to put a spotlight on Coleraine’s history and how it links with the history and culture of Derry~Londonderry which is the UK City of Culture 2013,” said project co-ordinator Joanne Honeyford.

We plan to produce a DVD about King James’ army laying siege to Coleraine on its way to Derry. And then we will re-enact the story on part of the surviving 17th century rampart at Anderson Park in May 2013.”

I is hoped that the DVD and the performance will largely involve young people aged 10-16 from local schools.

There is such a rich history here in Coleraine and a lot of young people are not aware of it,” explained Joanne.

“This project will educate them in the history of the area, as well as involving them in dance, drama, music, costume design and the production of the DVD.

“We also plan to take the 40-50 young people involved in the project on a visit to Derry~Londonderry. They will have a guided tour to give them a sense of the history of the city and see how it parallels with the history of Coleraine.”

ther aspects of the project involve research into life in the 17th century. “We will not just be teaching them historical facts, we will also give them a sense of what life was like for people living then,” said Joanne. “We’ll be looking at the clothes the people would have worn, the weapons that would have been used and what the men would have eaten.”

It’s really going to make young people aware of the history of Coleraine and its links with Derry~Londonderry, helping them to better understand their roots and current situation in Northern Ireland today.”

oanne McDowell, Big Lottery Fund NI Director, said: We would encourage organisations in Coleraine and across Northern Ireland with an idea for an arts or culture project that links to the City of Culture celebrations and benefits their local community to apply for funding now.”

Application forms and guidance notes are available to download now at: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/northernireland