Encompassing three days, 18 nationalities, 20 venues, 26 speakers, 200 delegates and one aim – to make the world a better place through creativity – Arts towards an inclusive society was much more than your average conference.

Between 21 and 23 October 2005, Belfast’s Waterfront Hall played host to the leading lights in international community arts. Arts practitioners, policy makers and administrators came together to look at the role that the arts have played in promoting more peaceful, prosperous and inclusive societies from South Africa to the Shankill Road.

Of course, being a community arts event, delegates had plenty of opportunity to put theory into practice through an extensive programme of workshops held in community centres throughout Belfast. Not only did this give Northern Ireland’s community arts sector the opportunity to showcase some of its brightest and most innovative projects – many delegates have expressed an interest in transferring what they have learnt to their own communities.