£50k to Raise the Titanic

• National Lottery

The Heritage Lottery Fund has provided funding of £50k to the Northern Ireland Science park to raise the titanic's Belfast heritage profile. At the same time as awarding this grant HLF has announced that its total investment in Northern Ireland's heritage has reached £120 million.

At the historic Titanic's Dock and Pump-House, HLF Chairman Ronnie Spence announced funding of £50,000 to the Northern Ireland Science Park (NISP) for a new project involving one of Northern Ireland's most iconic figures- the RMS Titanic.  The First Minister, Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness were present to hear details of the project which has taken HLF's investment in local heritage to £120 million. 

Speaking at the event Mr Spence said: "We are delighted to announce that we have invested £120 million in local projects and have transformed every aspect of Northern Ireland's rich heritage.  There is no better way of reaching this milestone than by supporting a project that explores the heritage of one of our most famous creations.  The Titanic and Belfast's shipbuilding heritage are known throughout the world.  The Titanic's Dock and Pump-House were at the core of Harland and Wolff's operation, and this project will provide opportunities for school children and the local community to learn about Belfast's maritime and industrial heritage in one of the few remaining original buildings. 

"Since 1994, HLF has awarded funds to one thousand local groups and organisations.  With HLF support our outstanding landscapes have been protected and preserved, our famous buildings have been restored and our local traditions have been brought back to life.  This huge investment in such a diverse range of projects has helped to redefine heritage by making it relevant and important to people right across Northern Ireland.  It has also been the catalyst for an enormous additional investment of nearly £275 million into the heritage sector and wider economy through partnership funding".
    
With its investments and initiatives such as its recent ‘Digging Deeper: Sharing our past, Sharing our future' conference, HLF has radically altered the perception of heritage in Northern Ireland.  Exploring the connection between heritage and identity, HLF has shown that heritage is concerned with much more than our past; it plays an incredibility important role in shaping our future. 

Head of HLF Northern Ireland, Paul Mullan added: "HLF's investment is creating a positive future for local people.  By preserving our buildings and landscapes we have helped to sustain the unique character of Northern Ireland, and by exploring and celebrating our cultural traditions and the history of people and places we learn more about who we are.  The investment has also acted as a driver for the economy, creating jobs and strengthening the tourism infrastructure, bringing benefits to Northern Ireland as a whole".

NISP Chief Executive Norman Apsley said: "The investment from the HLF is gratefully received and will ensure that the use of our newly refurbished Pump-House facility is extended from being purely a tourism-focused attraction into being a fully accessible educational resource. Based on the popularity of our informal school visits programme to date we have learned that the Titanic is a powerful brand which captures the imagination of young and old alike. With this funding we will be able to deliver quality educational resources within an overall interactive learning experience where the history of innovative science, technology and people all come together."

HLF has awarded a grant of £50,000 to Northern Ireland Science Park (NISP) for a project based at the Titanic's Dock and Pump-House. The Titanic's Dock and Pump-House is situated on the 25 acre site which comprises the NISP.  During the construction of the White Star Liners Britannic, Olympic and RMS Titanic, the Titanic's Dock and Pump-House were considered to be ‘the beating heart' of Harland & Wolff. 

The HLF funded project will provide opportunities for the local community to learn about Belfast's maritime, technological and industrial heritage.  NISP will run an education programme for primary schools across Northern Ireland, producing a resource pack in the form of a booklet and online information.  The Pump-House will also be promoted as a community venue and NISP will operate an outreach programme to encourage local groups and organisations. As part of HLF's funding programme a limited number of free tours will be made available for selected schools.