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It is good to see the
plans for the potential regeneration of Carrickfergus, which are now on
display in the civic centre. However, there is a striking omission. One
of the exciting things about culture in Northern Ireland over the past
two decades has been the growth of arts centres in provincial towns,
from Downpatrick to Coleraine and from Newtownards to Enniskillen. There
are now many dedicated venues for theatre and for concerts as well as
ample local spaces for workshops, rehearsals and classes. As a result,
local artists now have somewhere to showcase their talents and local
inhabitants are less prone to drift towards Belfast for their
entertainment. Arts venues can also help to renew a town centre, as
local people call into cafes or restaurants, as part of their night out.
Although Carrickfergus civic centre, library and town hall have both
hosted a variety of performances and exhibitions over recent years,
sadly the town does not possess a dedicated space in which plays may be
produced to a professional standard, concerts heard in a high-quality
auditorium and classes undertaken in everything from painting to dance.
This is to the disadvantage of the borough, especially given the
facilities which are on offer in Newtownabbey, which is moving its arts
venue from Ballyearl to Mossley Mill. Ballymena’s splendid new Braid
Centre is another nearby cultural innovation.
Whilst many civic partners ought to be involved, I would suggest that
the churches in Carrickfergus ought to be at the forefront of a campaign
to create an arts centre in the town. The Christian faith is rooted in
the belief that God Himself is supremely creative and that He is the one
who brought the universe into being, including the many wonders of
nature which we observe here on earth. Down through the centuries,
Christian artists were inspired by their faith to make creations of
stunning beauty, including the great Lutheran musician, Johann Sebastian
Bach, and the painter Michelango, whose masterpieces adorn the ceilings
of the Sistine chapel.
An arts centre would be the perfect place for locals, Christian or
otherwise, to give witness to their values through the media of verse,
theatre, visual arts, music and countless other means. It would be a
venue for exploring the interaction between spirituality and culture.
There is the rich spiritual history of Carrickfergus to be explored,
including - among other things - the Franciscan faith of the monastery
which once stood at Joymount and the rich traditions of the Reformed
Presbyterian denomination, whose origins in the faith of the Scottish
Covenanters makes for a stirring narrative.
Besides all of this, we should remember that the new tourists who are
coming to Northern Ireland are culturally literate, inquisitive and
well-informed. They do not want to be shown around the castle and told
to take a walk along the pier before heading for the Antrim Glens or the
Giant’s Causeway. They are interested in all aspects of local traditions
and they want to witness an authentic local expression of the arts.
A genuine growth in tourism is possible – with all the benefits that
that growth would bring – if Carrickfergus possesses an arts venue that
is open each day and each evening, and offers a range of events that
draws in the international clientele which now visits Belfast, in order
to see a high quality drama production that celebrates local writing or
to hear a fine concert of traditional or classical music, composed and
played by local performers.
Philip
Orr
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