Arts, sport and music represent key opportunities for both cross community and cross border engagement.

Over the years, associations with one particular tradition or the other have been reinforced through e.g. membership of the GAA, membership of bands, membership of Orange Orders/Hibernians, membership of Ulster Scots and Irish language organisations etc.

This programme will seek to promote appreciation and tolerance, share expertise and knowledge and create opportunities to take part in non-traditional activities. A number of schools and community organisations already have activities and contacts with respect to these activities which will be built upon through this programme.

Partisan Productions have been appointed to undertake delivery of the Play Fair – Arts Programme.

What are your experiences of being a member of a minority community living and working among a majority from the ’other side’? Are you aware of unwritten rules and limits? Does your name or where you went to school become an issue for yourself or others? How do you deal with these thorny issues of politics, religion or even sport? Do you feel more at ease with your ’own sort’? When is it best to keep your head down, play along and say nothing? Can we find ways to change all this?

If any of this sounds familiar we want to hear your experiences, stories and thoughts and would like you to join us in the creation of an innovative theatre production exploring the effects and consequences of ’silent sectarianism’. For more information, or to register, contact Karen McFarlane or Fintan Brady on 028 9031 0900 or partisanproductions@hotmail.com

The Play Fair – Music and Play Fair – Sport Programmes are currently under development. Further details will be available in due course.

A number of Small Grants have also been available under this programme, with funding of up to £30,000 available per grant. Please note that calls for Small Grant applications are now closed.

See below for some of the successful applicants under this theme.

• Carrick RFC
• Monkstown Community Sports Facility
• University of Ulster
• University of Ulster Sports Academy

Project supported by PEACE III Programme managed by the
Special EU Programmes Body
and delivered by Newtownabbey Borough Council.