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About FLGA
About FLGA
The Forum for Local Government and the Arts is a network of Councillors, Arts Managers and Arts Activists dedicated to supporting the practise and enjoyment of the Arts in Northern Ireland.
The Forum was originally established in 1994 and has the primary intention of formalising the mechanisms and working arrangements through which the Arts Council of Northern Ireland would consult district councils and engender a stronger sense of partnership working.
A recent review of the FLGA identified the need for it to strengthen engagement with the district councils. Following this:
- The Forum will now take on a greater role as a co-coordinating and lobbying organisation, ensuring that arts are a prominent feature in local politics.
- It will play increasingly instrumental roles in raising awareness of the value of the arts and developing arts provision at local community level, by building partnerships between local councillors, council officers and arts representatives.
This strengthening of engagement with local government is particularly significant in light of the Government's recent announcements which signalled major changes to the future of public administration in Northern Ireland.
The FLGA recently appointed an Arts Policy Officer to co-ordinate its programme of activities and therefore optimising delivery of its strategy to promote effective partnerships for the development of the arts. The Arts Officer is based in the Northern Ireland Local Government Associations Office (NILGA); this partnership agreement is a key mechanism for building links between the Forum and elected representatives from the 26 district council areas.
