Creativity NI

Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín and City of Culture support Creativity Month - a celebration of creativity and the creative industries in the north of Ireland.

A series of events and workshops will take place throughout March 2013 to stimulate new thinking and new collaborations to help creative people, creative ideas and creative organisations and businesses to emerge and flourish.

Our society faces challenges in the economy, education, health, poverty and social exclusion, and the environment. Creativity involves connecting things not previously connected. This can include people, organisations, businesses and ideas. These creative connections can stimulate new ways of tackling these problems and finding innovative solutions.

In 2012 the Culture Minister, Carál Ní Chuilín MLA, unveiled this CreativityNI website which aims to evolve into an online hub for creativity across the region. The resource has been developed by Culture NI and the Culture Company behind the Derry~Londonderry City of Culture in 2013.

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of Culture Company 2013 Ltd, pictured above with the Minister, said: 'City of Culture 2013 will be a catalyst for the entire region. It will demonstrate the power of arts and culture to inspire new thinking, drive regeneration and showcase our strengths and creativity to the world. This on-line resource will begin to share ideas and make creative connections that will deliver lasting impact across the region.'

The Minister added: 'Creativity will play a key role in rebuilding and rebalancing our economy. Our Creative Industries are a vibrant, innovative and growing part of our economy, and are increasingly being recognised as a positive economic force. The impact of the Creative Industries can also be seen across a wide range of sectors from tourism to manufacturing. There are examples all around us in advertising, architecture, art, crafts, design, film, music and digital technologies'.

'Creativity Month is about building momentum around creativity and the Creative Industries and inspiring people and organisations to think differently, to think creatively and to look to the possibilities of the future.'

Creativity Month 2013 will showcase the work of organisations across the region in developing creative and innovative solutions to societal challenges across the economy, health, education and the environment. This year's theme will include a particular focus on tackling poverty and social exclusion.