Westminster visit for Ballymena’s Creative Peace Mural Society

THE BALLYMENA based Creative Peace Mural Society (CPMS) is set to play a part in Parliament’s contribution to the Cultural Olympiad, a key part of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Arts in Parliament programme, announced earlier this week, incorporates events which will take place in and around Westminster Hall, London between June and September 2012. CPMS will be displaying their Olympic inspired mural ‘Hands around the World’ and, for the first time, exhibit ten murals created by global communities over the last 12 years. The ‘Hands around the World’ project in association with Ballymena Borough Council, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Ballymena Learning Together, will bring together over 500 post primary students from schools across Ballymena.

The students will create a mural which will reflect their view of the world and the Olympic values of friendship and respect. Work will start on the mural in March 2012 and will take three weeks to complete. The 5mx2m mural will include a border of hand prints and a series of key words relating to the values of the 2012 Olympics, and a central feature depicting cultures from around the world.

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Since 2000 CMPS has worked with communities across the world including Canada, Switzerland, Uruguay, Ukraine, New Zealand, Uganda, Japan and China developing murals reflecting their local culture, history and geography. Over the years 10 murals have been created and for the first time all 10 murals will be on display alongside the ‘Hands around the World’ mural in the Houses of Parliament, London.

James Perry, from the Creative Peace Mural Society, said: “We are proud and privileged to be representing Ballymena and Northern Ireland as part of Arts in Parliament. It’s a wonderful opportunity to showcase the artistic talents of the schools in the area as well as the work the organisation has developed since 2000.

“Everyone involved in the project is very excited that all the murals will be on display in the Houses of Parliament during a time when the global spotlight will shine on London.”

Frank Doran MP, Chair of the House of Commons Works of Art Committee and advisor to the Arts in Parliament programme, said: “The Creative Peace Mural Society is contributing a wonderful display of beautiful murals to Arts in Parliament, Parliament’s contribution to the Cultural Olympiad.

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“As a partner of Arts in Parliament, we are proud to be collaborating with other arts organisations from across the UK to help deliver this free programme taking place from June to September 2012.”

For further information on the Arts in Parliament programme visit www.parliment.uk/artsinparliment or follow UKParlArts on Twitter.