The Millennium Forum’s popular Access project, Moves & Melodies, is going on tour!  In keeping with its commitment to providing an all-inclusive experience for all, the Millennium Forum will bring their age friendly event to a number of venues including Derg Care Centre, Creggan Day Centre, Waterside Hospital and Irish Street Community Centre.  The tour has been made possible by funding from the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund in partnership with Business to Arts.

The project offers older patrons the opportunity to dance, reminisce and sing and features an afternoon of song and dance that will be facilitated by Fiona Logue, Claire Harkin and Emma Lindsay who will bring their wealth of expertise in music and dance to over fifty participants each session.  In addition to the new tour, it will also continue throughout the year on a monthly basis at the Millennium Forum’s studio theatre.

Lisa Heaney, Box Office & Access Manager at the Millennium Forum, said:

“We are delighted to offer this event again as part of the continuing development of our accessible performances at the Millennium Forum.  We are working incredibly hard to ensure that our venue is fully accessible to all our patrons and we greatly recognise the importance of removing barriers for people living with disabilities. We are so excited to be taking this project out into the community as we feel it is incredibly important to offer such worthwhile and beneficial arts events to those unable to travel to our theatre.  We couldn’t achieve this without the help of our Access sponsors and funding partners Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund in partnership with Business to Arts, Specsavers, the Arts Council NI and AAA.”

Eighrean Horner, Bank of Ireland Culmore Road Branch Manager, said:

“The Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund was designed to support projects that inspire and uplift local communities and it’s great to see that ethos being brought to life through ‘Moves and Melodies’ on Tour.  We’re delighted to have played a part in enabling the Millennium Forum to ensure this wonderful afternoon of song, dance and memory could be made available to as many communities and residents as possible.”

The project is part of an ongoing Access programme produced by the Millennium Forum in close collaboration with Access to Arts for All (AAA), a charity with is supported by and based in the theatre.   Professor Dolores O’Reilly, Chairperson of AAA, commented:

“Access to Arts for All, (AAA) is delighted to see ‘Moves and Melodies’ going out into the community. This project provides another enjoyable and fun-filled opportunity for those in our community who would benefit from it most.  AAA is very grateful to our sponsors, especially the Arts Council (NI), Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund in partnership with Business to Arts, and our partner, the Millennium Forum for helping us achieve our aim of widening and increasing participation in the arts for all.”

The monthly Moves & Melodies continues at the Millennium Forum and is a free event but booking is essential.  For more information on how to book, contact the Box Office on 02871 264455 or email lisah@millenniumforum.co.uk.

For more information on the Millennium Forum accessibility, contact Lisa Heaney, on 71 272779 or email lisah@millenniumforum.co.uk.  For businesses who are interested in becoming an Access Partner for the Millennium Forum, contact Cara McCartney on 71 272785 or email caramc@millenniumforum.co.uk