The Foyle Foundation has announced £1M in funding to go towards the extensive redevelopment of the Ulster Orchestra's home in Belfast.

The former Townsend Street Church on the peace line in Belfast will be restored and redeveloped to create the first permanent home for the Orchestra. The restored buildings will provide a rehearsal and events space, a music learning and community engagement hub, a dedicated recording studio, additional rehearsal rooms and spaces to rent, enabling the Orchestra to expand its work and impact in the Belfast community and across the region.

The funding is part of a £18M package by The Foyle Foundation to support 12 legacy projects across the UK.

David Hall, Chief Executive of The Foyle Foundation, said, “In addition to an increased budget for our normal grant giving programmes in our final year of operation, The Foundation wished to make a range of strategic grants across the country which would be of national and regional importance and of long-term benefit to sector leaders. This would ensure an enduring legacy for The Foyle Foundation and make a long-lasting positive impact on the lives of young people and others and show imaginative ways to encourage philanthropy for those who have the ambition to support the arts and learning.”

As we announced last year, The Foyle Foundation is joined by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Ulster Garden Villages, Dormant Accounts Fund NI and the continued support of the Department for Communities, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council in supporting the redevelopment project. 

The restored site, encompassing the former church building, memorial hall and former school building, has been renamed Ulster Orchestra at Townsend. The former Townsend Street Church building itself is being re-named the Foyle Foundation Hall at Townsend.

“Our vision is to be a vital force in the cultural, social and educational life of Northern Ireland,” said Ulster Orchestra CEO Auveen Sands about the project. “We already work closely with many local communities through our learning and community education programme, but we want everyone to have access to our music and to deliver even more diverse and engaging activities.”

Find out more about the other legacy projects funded by The Foyle Foundation on their website, and stay tuned for updates on the Townsend restoration and redevelopment project over the coming year.