THE Arts Council returned to Omagh recently to present its new five year arts plan for Northern Ireland at Omagh Library, in acknowledgment of the vital contribution made to the plan by artists and arts groups from the area. The plan, entitled Creative Connections, is driven by a bold vision to place arts and culture at the heart of Northern Ireland's social, economic and creative life.

Director of Strategic Development at the Arts Council, Nick Livingston said, "This strategy has been developed over a period of review and deliberation both within the Council and through wide ranging consultation with the sector.

"The vision we have set out is considered and appropriate, planned to keep pace with the artistic and cultural expectations of a modern society and it is designed to make a real contribution to the social, economic and cultural re-generation of Northern Ireland.

"Delivering on this five-year strategy will require Government to invest in arts and culture in Northern Ireland in a way which provides parity of treatment with other parts of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Our request to Government is to raise the per capita spend on the arts from £6 to £10, which is an increase of approximately £20m for the 2008 to 2011 funding horizon."

Mr Livingstone said investment was crucial if they were to develop further their seed bed of artistic talent and innovation and if Northern Ireland was to continue to develop creatively and to make a meaningful place for itself in the global economy.

"The arts are increasingly recognised in other places as a catalyst for community development and regeneration of civic pride. Successful artists have the potential to make the world talk about Northern Ireland for all the right reasons and to promote an image of a confident and creative place in which to live, work and do business. This is an already vibrant sector which deserves to be nurtured and which is already a potent force in enhancing the image of Northern Ireland abroad. Now is the time to build on what we have" Nick Livingston concluded.

The Arts Council's new plan outlines a series of innovative schemes to contribute to the development of cultural tourism, the creative industries and entrepreneurial skills for artists, as well as building on the success of Northern Ireland's existing artists and arts organisations.

The transformation of neighbourhoods through public art commissions and street-scaping and arts venues such as the brand new Omagh Arts Centre, also form part of the plan to bring economic prosperity and renewed vitality to the night life of towns and cities.

"The Arts Council wants to build on the success of Creative Youth Partnerships which brings school children together with all sorts of artists, including writers, actors and musicians, and extend it beyond the school gates into the most disadvantaged communities.

"Making the most of groundbreaking opportunities for our artists and arts organisations to showcase their work at prestigious world festivals such as the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC and the Venice Biennale art fair, has already begun to elevate Northern Ireland's international image. This in turn is helping to attract visitors and investors.

In summary the Arts Council pledges to continue to work in close partnership with artists, arts organisations, and other agencies in using all the resources available to it to create a new and culturally rich Northern Ireland," Mr Livingstone added.