Creative and digital arts specialists Giga Training & Beam Creative Network are running a FREE Digital Arts Academy summer scheme across Belfast, with limited spaces available for boys and girls aged 9-12 years at Banana Block, Girdwood Community Hub, Stranmillis University College and Black Mountain Shared Space Project.
The fun, interactive 5 day summer scheme programme will be facilitated by some of the most exciting creative talent from across Northern Ireland. Spaces are now available to book on to the Digital Arts Programme or the Art and Drama Clubs.
Each young person taking part will have the opportunity to get hands on experience in a range of activities including graphic design, animation, music production, DJing, digital art, dance, performance, film making, creative writing and more.
The Digital Arts Academy forms part of a three-year PEACEPLUS initiative. Over the lifetime of the project, over 1500 young people aged 9–12 from across Belfast will take part in a wide range of creative and digital arts activities.
This summer alone, around 300 young people will participate in academies across the city. From September to December, the programme will expand into special educational needs (SEN) schools and community partners, before continuing from January to June through SEN schools, youth groups and schools.
This will ensure more young people with special educational needs have opportunities to develop creative skills, build confidence, make new friendships and promote understanding and inclusion through the arts.
The Digital Arts Academy is part of the Belfast Local Community Action Plan supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes body (SEUPB). The project will engage young people in activity to develop friendships and an understanding of diversity while educating on peace and conflict resolution to develop skills as “ambassadors for peace”.
Councillor Joe Duffy, Chair of Belfast City Council’s Shared City Partnership, said: “Council is delighted to support many great PEACEPLUS projects across the city like the Digital Arts Academy summer scheme. The children taking part will not only be having fun through a range of exciting activities – they will also be meeting up with others from different backgrounds and cultures – building on good relations in the city and becoming “peace ambassadors” in their communities and beyond.”
John Walls, from Digital Arts Academy and Giga Training, added: “We are delighted to partner with Beam Creative Network to deliver the Digital Arts Academy on behalf of the PEACEPLUS Programme. Delivering digital and creative arts projects to young people that make it accessible and fun, is at the core of what we do.
“For many years we have worked across Belfast delivering projects for young people, it is always a joy to watch how these have a positive impact on their lives and help them make new friends. This is a very popular summer scheme, and with limited spaces now available I would advise booking now to avoid disappointment.”
To book a place on Digital Arts Academy visit www.digital-arts-academy.com/book/ or follow Digital Arts Academy on Facebook and Instagram #BelfastPEACEPLUS.
For more information on Belfast PEACEPLUS, visit the Council website at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/peaceplus and SEUPB at https://www.seupb.eu/peaceplus
