Press Release

Toledo Delegation To Visit Derry To Examine Cultural and Social Regeneration

Thursday, 28 October 2004

A delegation of senior public representatives, policy makers and entrepreneurs from Toledo in the Castilla La Mancha Region of Spain will be in Derry for a six-day visit as part of the Northern Ireland Centre for European Co-operation’s (NICEC) cultural and social regeneration programme.

Toledo delegation who are in Derry on a week-long visit. The delegation are pictured alongside Visual Arts 0rganiser with Derry City Council, Brendan McMenamin.

NICEC is a unit of the University of Ulster and is based at the Magee campus, and is funded under the EU’s Peace II programme through the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister.

The visit, hosted by and co-ordinated in association with Derry City Council, follows a visit last May delegates from Derry to the city of Toledo. Toledo is experienced in addressing regional cultural policies, cultural tourism and cultivation of cultural resources and is a successful best practice model having achieved status for World Heritage Site. The city is also a member and co-ordinator of the European Network of Cities of Culture.

The Mayor, Councillor Gearoid O’hEara welcoming the delegation to the city said: “I am delighted that the Toledo delegation are visiting the city. The visit earlier this year by representatives from Derry to Toledo demonstrated very positive outputs and was deemed extremely successful. Given the promising nature of the exchange programme to date between Derry and Toledo, I am confident that this visit is a mechanism for future partnerships through networking and participation in programmes that will address urban regeneration through social and cultural initiatives.”

During their visit, the delegates will attend a series of meetings and seminars throughout the week in an effort to experience cultural and social aspects of the region and explore the role of policy in promoting active citizenship.

The group will also meet with representatives from key institutions, networking organisations, regional and local government, entrepreneurs and non-governmental organisations during their visit to the North West. During their stay in the North West, the group will also experience the city’s Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival and take a trip to Donegal.

The delegation will include D. José Manuel Tofiño –President of the Provincial Government of Toledo; Dña. Angeles Díaz Vieco – manager of the Culture and Sports Foundation; D. Angel Nicolás – President of the Toledo Businessmen-Foundation; D. Juan Ignacio de Mesa –Director of Toledo Real Foundation; D. Eugenio Sánchez – General Secretary of the Federation of municipalities and provinces of Castilla-La Mancha.

Dr Fionnuala McKelvey, Director, NICEC said “There are opportunities for Derry to learn lessons from the way things are done in Toledo, and I’m sure Toledo can also learn from us. We hope that from this new link, further partnerships in the field of culture and heritage will evolve between the two cities.”

Nollaig O Fionghaile, NICEC’s Cultural and Social Regeneration Officer, said: “ We have very astute people in Derry and Toledo who want to make things happen and create a forum to transfer new ideas into action. Visiting Toledo, it was obvious that their approach was to place people first in their plans and strategies on culture and social development.

“This visit and seminar in Derry gives us the opportunity to look at all the issues, for instance how we make cultural resources accessible to the community, how we care for them and live with them. In Derry we have vibrant cultural, social and economic regeneration agents who have been active and successful in leading development in the city.”

According to Brendan McMenamin, Acting Visual Arts Officer for Derry City Council, the exchange visit is expected to be a positive learning experience for both cities.

He explained that Toledo is a regional city in Spain that has successfully developed and marketed an international profile as a city of culture. The city is experienced in addressing regional cultural policies and cultural tourism and is hoping to learn from Derry how best to embrace its intangible heritage.

“This visit will have benefits for both cities and examine political, cultural, economic and business issues that are concerning both of us. There will be opportunities for us to develop potential business links and for the Toledo group to learn how to deal with and promote its cultural diversity. We have organised an extensive timetable of events to ensure that the group meet with representatives from a variety of cultural, economic and political background. We are looking forward to their visit and believe it will be a very positive event for both of us,” he said.

Ends

Further press information please contact Derry City Council, Tel. 028 7137 6504 or David Young, University of Ulster Press Office, Tel. 07808 911 343

Photo Opportunities

Sunday, 31 October

· 12.30pm - Representatives of the Toledo Delegation will be participating in a Walking Tour of the Historic City Walls with Paddy Doherty.
Meeting point – Calgach Centre, Butcher Street

Monday, 01 November

· 11.00am – Millennium Forum – Seminar on Social and Cultural Renewal in Derry
Representatives of Toledo delegation, Derry City Council and University of Ulster

Notes to Editor:

The timetable of events for the Toledo group is as follows:

Saturday, 30 October:
Arrival at City of Derry Airport

Sunday 31 October:
12 noon - Guided walks of the City Walls to include Inner City Trust, Bogside, and Fountain etc
6pm – Meet with Mayor at Guildhall
7.30 – View the fireworks as part of the city’s Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival

Monday 01 November:
AM - Millennium Forum – Theme of Discussion – Social and Cultural Renewal in Derry
PM – Site visits to cultural and social regeneration centres

For additional information contact:

Press Office

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