NI ASSEMBLY CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE COMMITTEE TO VISIT THE ULSTER MUSEUM

The newly renovated Ulster Museum will play host to the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure on Thursday 19 November. The Committee is at the Museum to discuss the preservation of maritime history and also will take the opportunity to tour the new exhibition spaces.

Committee Chairperson Barry McElduff MLA said: “The Committee will hear from people working on the ground to preserve our maritime history. We appreciate the pride that people here have in their history and we support efforts to preserve it through adequate museum provision.

“I know that the Committee will enjoy its tour of the museum which has been extensively improved and modernised. The £17 million pounds that has been invested has created a great exhibition space, allowing a wide range of artefacts to be on display to the public. The bright, open plan atmosphere and interactive exhibits create a great experience for visitors.

“The museum has attracted thousands of visitors in the last few weeks, and I am sure a significant proportion of them are tourists. This can only be good for the local economy and for the profile of our arts infrastructure.”

ENDS

Note to Editor

The Chairperson of the Committee is Mr Barry McElduff MLA.
The Deputy Chairperson is Mr David McNarry MLA

The Committee has a further nine members:

Mr Dominic Bradley MLA
Mr PJ Bradley MLA
Mr Francie Brolly MLA
The Lord Browne MLA
Mr Trevor Clarke MLA
Mr Kieran McCarthy MLA
Ms Michelle McIlveen MLA
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA

The Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure is a Statutory Departmental Committee which has a scrutiny, policy development and consultation role with respect to the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure and has a role in the initiation of legislation.

The Committee has the power to:

consider and advise on Departmental budgets and annual plans in the context of the overall budget allocation;
approve relevant secondary legislation and take the Committee Stage of primary legislation;
call for persons and papers;
initiate inquiries and make reports; and
consider and advise on matters brought to the Committee by the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

The Committee is currently considering the following key issues as part of its forward work programme:

An inquiry into the funding of the arts in Northern Ireland
The preservation and promotion of Townland Names
The Department’s management of its arms length bodies
Capital grants for Sports Clubs
Stadia development
Indigenous language strategy

The Clerk to the Committee is – Kathryn Bell
Committee Office
Northern Ireland Assembly
Room 424 Parliament Buildings
Stormont
Belfast
BT4 3XX
Telephone: 028 90 521841
Fax: 028 90 521355
E Mail: committee.cal@niassembly.gov.uk

For media enquiries, please contact:

Ms Debra Savage,
Communications Officer,
Northern Ireland Assembly
Telephone – 028 90 521405
Mobile: 07920 864221
Website Address – archive.niassembly.gov.uk
Email – info.office@niassembly.gov.uk