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Newry arts group Sticky Fingers have announced that their much loved childrens' interactive arts facility The Imaginarium, as well as the Caring Coins Café and their black box style theatre are closing. The doors of the facility are closed from today. It follows the announcement earlier in August that the facility would be forced to close unless funding was found. Newry City councillor Geraldine Kearns is putting forward an emergency motion in relation to the closure at tonights September meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
The Imaginarium closure is part of a larger even bleaker picture of the arts offerings in Newry though. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council closed the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, as part of covid measures back in 2020 but the facility never reopened. Newry Town Hall will also not be hosting any further events from later this year due to the proposed new build theatre facility at that location.
At an outstanding Newpoint Players Youth Group production of 'Orphans' on Friday past, Newpoint production team member, Mark Hughes said "come Monday morning the doors of Sticky Fingers are closing because they have no more funding to go on. If you have a voice, if you have a desire, if you have a want for our people and our children for that to be carried on please speak out to those who are willing to listen, to those who are capable of doing something, and I beg our council to please listen."
They give, for nothing .. and we get nothing in return
Hughes continued "They use us as a promotional tool for their town as part of their perrenial calendar of events and entertainment. They use Bosco, they use all of the youth groups who are constantly performing, and then what they do is they shut the door in our face. There's nothing more that we can do, so please I ask each and every one of you and Anthony [Anthony Fitzpatrick, Director] did find some of the most wonderful people who came forward and helped with their talents as well, Elizabeth Freeburn, Mary McManus, every one of them Donal O'Hanlon, Kate O'Hanlon, Sean Treanor, nobody gets paid, nobody wants nothing, nobody takes nothing, all that they do is that they give, and that's what Newpoint and Newpoint Youth and the arts, the whole artistic family in Newry do - They give, for nothing .. and we get nothing in return."
Tonight's emergency motion from Cllr Kearns asks the council to support Sticky Fingers, as well as working with both the Department of Communities and the Executive Office to secure funding for the long term future of the facility.
Cllr Kearns said “News that the Imaginarium is facing imminent closure due to loss of funding is extremely concerning.
“This centre is a vitally important asset for children, families and community groups in Newry city and its closure would be a huge loss to people across the district."
The Newry City representative added “Sinn Féin is determined to work with everyone to help secure the future of this vital facility for all in our community."
See Sticky Fingers Imaginarium closing at end of August unless funds are found
