The Cornstore Creative Hub in Draperstown will receive £30,000 for a minibus for community transport and also £20,000 for programming.

This support is part of an overall investment in the North West of more than £4million in the current financial year. A range of projects are being supported, from arts and theatre to the purchase of outdoor and event delivery equipment. The investment will also see the purchase of high tech digital media and IT equipment for 16 cultural hubs.

Speaking during a visit to projects in Draperstown, Derry and Dungiven, the Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said: “This additional investment will help to embed a lasting legacy of the 2013 City of Culture year by providing community organisations with equipment to allow them to enhance their existing provision, and help them to make a real difference to people’s lives."

Funding is also being provided to organisations for outdoor, event delivery and sporting equipment.

“The provision of event delivery equipment will ensure that community events are delivered to a professional level and with the highest standard of health and safety. With the provision of both basic and cutting edge IT equipment for the cultural hubs and the provision of training for users, there is a fantastic opportunity for local people to become more involved in cultural and creative activity, gain recognised qualifications and improve their employment prospects,” the Minister added.

Paddy Glasgow from the Cornstore Creative Hub welcomed the funding, saying: “It is nice to have our work recognised by the government. We facilitate many different groups and individuals and we offer support to other rural areas.

“We have had the Minister visit and Martina Anderson has been out, as well as local politicians like Sandra Overend and all of them have praised the work we are doing. As I said it is nice to get the funding but this is just the start, we need the continued support from the new super-council and the Assembly,” he added.

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