Choice Housing, one of Northern Ireland’s largest housing associations, is collaborating with c21 Theatre Company in a unique community arts project that will see local residents from Antrim bringing a festive glow to Main Street, Antrim Castle Mall this Christmas.
The ‘Living Windows’ initiative will feature a diverse range of people, as living art, on shop fronts in the popular Antrim Street Castle Mall. The shop fronts will feature the participants, with the visuals installed via projectors across several windows offering the chance for people to come along and experience the installation.
The event was supported by the Department for Communities (DfC) and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme. The Programme has its origins in the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy which reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society. A potential investment of £2.1M may be invested in the Fountain Hill, Antrim shared housing development and associated five-year Good Relations Plan. A joint Advisory group for Antrim is in place and will work in partnership with local stakeholders to deliver the good relations plan.
Choice Housing’s Good Relations Officer, Mark Kent said,
“The c21 Theatre Company has delivered some very creative and exciting initiatives across Northern Ireland, placing local people at the heart of these projects and we are delighted that so many people have been involved.
“This initiative follows on from a range of Good Relations activities that Choice Housing support including a very successful Cultural celebration that also took place at Antrim Mall.”
Creative Director of c21 Theatre Company, Stephen Kelly is delighted to bring the company's latest installation to Antrim Town:
"It was a real pleasure to work in collaboration with Choice Housing, Arts and Business NI and Castle Mall Shopping Centre to bring our latest installation to Antrim for the Christmas period. We held green screen sessions with local participants last month and the resulting content will be projected through windows on Antrim’s Main Street during December. Some participants wore costumes during the sessions to help create a real festive feel. They are very excited to see themselves up in lights.”
From Thursday 5th December the Living Windows Installation will run each Thursday- Saturday evening throughout December with the final night on Saturday 21st.
