£1 million shared history fund to mark NI centenary

The fund will support the engagement of a wide range of arts, heritage, voluntary, community and other non-profit organisations with the history of the centenary of Northern Ireland.

It is part of the government’s New Decade, New Approach commitments around marking the centenary of Northern Ireland in a spirit of ‘mutual respect, inclusiveness and reconciliation’.

The funding will be distributed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and is available to organisations across the UK.

Robin Walker MP, Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office, (pictured), said: “I want to encourage as many groups as possible, from many different perspectives, to get involved in this important project marking the centenary of Northern Ireland.

Paul Mullan, director, Northern Ireland, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We recognise that dealing with contested heritage can be challenging but it’s also important that this significant period is marked, and is inclusive of the many communities and individuals it has impacted.

“As we approach this important date in our history, we have an opportunity to reflect honestly about our past, and explore how the events of 1921, and afterwards, impacted on people in many different ways.”