Nelson McCausland MLA, Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, attended a special event at Play Resource.  It was to celebrate the 25 year partnership with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and to highlight the importance of public funding for the arts in delivering valuable services to local communities.

Minister McCausland met Primary 7 children from Seaview Primary School who were working with the artists Sally Young and Anne Quail to create artwork from materials available from the Scrapstore such as foam, plastic, fabric, cardboard and foil.  The Minister was able to see firsthand just how all the waste materials collected from industry by Play Resource become a source of creativity, fun and learning for children!

Celebrating the centre’s successful social enterprise business model, McCausland congratulated the staff and artists from Play Resource on their achievements to date:  ‘My department champions the promotion of creativity and innovation, and it is clear from my visit today that Play Resource has embraced these qualities. Over the years they have established many high quality creative experiences that promote the development of self esteem, personal growth and lifelong learning.’

Anne O’Donoghue, Director, Play Resource, said: ‘We are delighted that Minister McCausland was able to join us today to celebrate 25 years of public funding from the Arts Council.

‘During that time, Play Resource has become a major arts infrastructure organisation in Northern Ireland.  Last year alone, we worked with 143 donor businesses to gather the materials to deliver arts resources and projects to thousands of children and young people throughout the province.

‘Over the past 25 years we have developed a highly successful social economy enterprise which accounts for over 50% of our income making us less reliant on government funding and providing real value for money for funders.

‘Play Resource is looking forward to a future where we will continue, with the support of our members and funders, to deliver a stimulating and exciting programme.”

Play Resource is the largest creative resource facility in the UK and the only organisation of its kind in Northern Ireland.  Since opening its doors in 1983 with just 50 members, this number has now grown to 2,500 members with an estimated 300,000 children benefiting from the arts resource every year.  A great return on the investment made by all involved over the years!