Arts Minister David Hanson has said the rest of Northern Ireland has a lot to learn from Londonderry's arts community.

The Minister dropped into the Verbal Arts Centre, the Nerve Centre and the Playhouse on Wednesday.

He added that the city is "punching well above its weight" in creative terms. Building on Derry's strong reputation for creativity, the Verbal Arts Centre, housed in an old school, concentrates on written and spoken creative expression, while the Nerve Centre at Magazine Street has a reputation as being one of the most dynamic multimedia centres in the UK and is also a top concert venue.

The Playhouse Theatre has a full programme of stage performances and, through its outreach department, works in the community with schools, hospitals, prisons and the unemployed to deliver a range of arts projects.

Speaking as he toured the three venues, the Minister said that he was impressed by the diversity of the Northern Ireland arts scene and by the commitment of the people involved on the ground.

"I want to encourage that commitment and I intend to put arts and creativity among my key priorities, to ensure that they are recognised as particularly valuable contributors to the Northern Ireland economy, to education and to the community," he said.

"I also want to see people engaging in the arts - especially those people who have never been in a theatre or visited a gallery.

"I want to see them being able to express themselves, to indulge their creativity, individuality and originality and perhaps to be surprised to discover hidden talent.

"I am a firm believer that music, dance, drama and writing can improve the quality of life for individuals and society as a whole.

"My visit to Derry has highlighted that the North West has an innovative and dynamic arts and creative sector which is making a positive impact on economic regeneration in the city."

He added: "I believe that other regions have much to learn from what is happening in this city which is punching well above its weight in creative terms."

2005 Independent News and Media (NI)