Community Arts Partnership – a new name, new office and a fresh start

Earlier this year the Community Arts Forum and New Belfast Community Arts Initiative announced they were to embark on a merger process.

The new name for the merged organisation will be Community Arts Partnership.

At the heart of the decision to merge was a passionate belief in community arts and commitment to supporting the sector and engaging with communities.

Consultation about the vision and future plans for the new organisation is ongoing. A full strategy, vision and programme of work will be announced as part of the official launch at the end of September 2011..

Watch this space for more information!

We’ve moved!
Our new office is now based at 3-5 Commercial Court, Belfast, BT1 2NB. (Beside the Duke of York)

Contact us on 028 9092 3493 or email caragh@newbelfastarts.org

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In 2011 CAF announced it would be merging with New Belfast Community Arts Initiative

When The Arts Council of Northern Ireland's (ACNI) ASOP programme (annual core funding) opened last year, ACNI made clear that it would be prioritising service delivery organisations over umbrella groups.

The threat of a complete loss of funding and subsequent closure of the Community Arts Forum (CAF) was a real and imminent possibility. At that point, the board of the CAF decided to explore the possibility of saving services through a merger.

New Belfast Community Arts Initiative, an organisation that initially developed from CAF 11 years ago, agreed to partner this development and co-operatively develop a merger process. The maintenance of services to the community arts sector was the primary objective of both organisations.

The resulting merger-plan aimed to combine the strengths of CAF’s advocacy, lobbying, training and information services with New Belfast’s multi-disciplinary workshop programmes and build on the legacy of both.

This plan was applied for through the ASOP programme and ACNI indicated their support in the 2011/12 funding announcements in March.

This newly merged organisation will maintain and strengthen community arts provision across Northern Ireland and explore and forge new partnerships locally, nationally and internationally.

But unfortunately there was a price to be paid. Valued members of staff were made redundant. This was unavoidable and a deeply regretted consequence of this process. The stark alternative was the loss of all services and staff.

In light of the difficulties and challenges of this transition, CAF and New Belfast will be sharing this learning through a publication later in the year.

A thank you to the CAF staff and board

A look back at CAF's work

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