£40,000 funding granted to light up Bogside murals

by Gráinne Connolly

Derry City and Strabane District Council and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) has approved a flood-lighting scheme to light up the 'People's Gallery' in the Bogside. 

Both the Council and the NIHE are contributing £20,000 to the project, totaling 40,000 in financing. 

The 12 murals that make up the 'People's Gallery' were created by Bogside artists who made the request for infrastructure to light them up. 

Tom Kelly of the Bogside Artists says they welcome the news: 

Back in 2015, a one off grant of £30,000 was approved by the council to restore half of the murals, which was also equally funded by the Housing Executive. 

The work is now complete and all of the murals have been restored to their original state. 

A previous lighting scheme was completed by the council in 2013 which the murals were also supposed to be included in subject to funding. 

However, due to budget constraints at that time, the number of lighting installations eventually had to be reduced and the scheme went ahead in lighting the City Walls, the Guildhall and six other heritage buildings. 

The council approved the funding at a meeting last Tuesday.

A council officer said:

"the scheme has a major tourist benefit as it increases the visibility and accessibility of the 'People's Gallery'. 

"In addition, the Housing Executive believe there is a community benefit as the areas will be well lit, increasing public safety."