A FERMANAGH arts project is one of 36 all-island projects spanning music, theatre, dance, opera, and the visual arts set to receive support from the first phase of the Bank of Ireland's Begin Together Arts Fund.

With nine of the projects Northern Ireland-based, the winner from Fermanagh – ‘I am here: short film series’ – is a series of new media/social media-friendly short films by Dylan Quinn and Kat Woods, in partnership with Dylan Quinn Dance Theatre.

The project explores the relationship between two people separated by the current pandemic and in need of connection.

The Fermanagh project is one of nine Northern Ireland-based arts projects that Bank of Ireland, in partnership with Business to Arts, and Arts and Business NI, will support from the first phase of the bank’s Begin Together Arts Fund.

Funding of £270,000 will be provided to artworks or arts projects which have been inspired by the experience of living through Covid-19, or that have been adapted in response to the pandemic.

The all-island Begin Together Arts Fund will make a total of €1m/£910k in arts funding available over three years and will open for a second round of applications in April.

Oliver Wall, Chief of Staff and Head of Group Corporate Affairs, Bank of Ireland, said: “Art has such an important role to play in helping us to understand, express and reflect on the world, especially at challenging times like these.

“I am delighted that through the Begin Together Arts Fund, Bank of Ireland can help sustain the development of new work and artistic practice during the pandemic.

“There’s a wonderful spread of projects across all art forms in this first phase, and I look forward to seeing them come to fruition over the rest of the year.”

Deirdre Hargey, Communities Minister for Northern Ireland, said: “This fund, which I understand has received a high standard of applications, will have a tremendous impact on the livelihood of artists and groups from all art forms across the island of Ireland.

“This has undoubtedly been a difficult time for the arts sector, but [artists’] creativity as well as diversity have certainly come to the fore.

‘Adapted due to Covid-19’

“This fund supports those arts projects that have responded to or have been adapted due to Covid-19. It is important that people from all of our communities continue to have access to the creative, heritage and arts sectors.”

Mary Nagele, Chief Executive, Arts & Business Northern Ireland, said: “We were delighted to work with Bank of Ireland and Business to Arts to maximise the impact of the Begin Together Arts Fund across Northern Ireland.

“We thank Bank of Ireland for its long-term support for the arts, and its investment in this fund.

“It is wonderful that it puts artists and artistic practice at the heart and is enabling so many incredible arts initiatives that will positively impact on people and communities in these difficult times for all.”