Write a commentTaking to the streets with flyers and encouraging the entire Newry population to vote like mad certainly paid dividends for Kaleidoscope's Newry Acting Up group who topped the poll at this years Big Lottery People's Millions Competition.
Celebrations have continued after their inspirational win last Wednesday when their Imagine Arts Centre project was awarded £48,000 from the People's Millions.
Kaleidoscope and their Newry Acting Up group were seeking the public's support to set up The Imagine Arts Centre, Northern Ireland's first ever Arts Centre for Older People.
In the weeks leading up to the vote the Newry group, which has over 40 members all over the age of 60, had been campaigning hard, spreading the word and enlisting the support of local businesses, schools, shops, and community groups.
When the voting lines opened last Tuesday the group took to the streets of Newry, braving the cold, to hand out flyers and encourage people to vote vote vote! Well the people of Newry didn't let them down! They got behind the group and voted in their thousands!
It was an anxious wait for the group and their supporters in Newry as the votes were counted but on Wednesday the result was announced on the UTV news that The Imagine Arts Centre had topped the poll. Against all the odds the Newry Group had done it!
Kerry Rooney, Kaleidoscope's Artistic Director told us, "We are thrilled to have won. All credit must go to the members of our Newry Acting Up group who worked tirelessly to achieve this incredible result. We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the support from the people of Newry. We would like to say a very special and sincere thank you to everyone who supported us and voted for us. We especially want to thank all the schools, businesses, shops and other groups in Newry who supported us. In particular our friends and colleagues in the Newry U3A. The Imagine Arts Centre will make a huge impact on, not just older people, but the entire community in Newry and beyond. This campaign has shown that when we work together we can achieve anything!"
The Imagine Arts Centre's first programme of classes will begin in January 2015 and will include things like drama, dance, singing, storytelling and creative writing. The classes will be open to anyone over the age of sixty from Newry and beyond. Information on how to sign up for classes will appear in the paper in early January. The group will continue to be based at the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre as they continue to pursue the funding they need for a new building.
Anyone wanting more information should contact Kaleidoscope via their website www.kaleidoscopeni.com
