Minutes of Proceedings

In attendance for public evidence session at 10:15am: Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry - Lyric Theatre - Ms June Moore, Marketing and PR Manager and Mr Patrick Dalgety, Production Manager.

In attendance for public evidence session at 10:55am: Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry - Brian Waddell Productions Limited - Ms Jane Coyle, Head of Film and Drama Development and Mr Richard Williams, Executive Producer.

In attendance for public evidence session at 11:35am: Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry - Cinemagic Film Festival - Ms Frances Cassidy, Director, Cinemagic, Ms Judith Sharvin, Festival Management Team and Mr Michael O'Neill, Director, Dream Ireland Limited.

In attendance for public evidence session at 12:15pm: Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry - Mr Richard Taylor, Chief Executive and Mr Malachy Martin, Information Officer.

The meeting opened in public at 10:15am.

1. Chairperson's business

1.1. The Chairperson referred members to correspondence received from the Department regarding 'Guidance on Local Strategies'. An invitation to a half-day workshop to discuss the draft guidance, arranged for 22 May 2001 in Lisburn Leisure Centre, has been extended to members of the Committee. As a Committee meeting is scheduled on that morning, members would be unable to attend.

1.2. The Chairperson referred members to a copy of a report by the Local Government Training Group as an output from the William Johnston Memorial Trust Millennium project. The report had been copied to the Committee by Dr Aideen McGinley, in the context of its Inquiry on Cultural Tourism and the Arts. The Committee agreed to consider the report at a later meeting, prior to taking evidence from district councils.

1.3. The Chairperson advised members of his meeting with Ms Karen Gillan MSP, Convenor of the Scottish Education, Culture and Sport Committee. The Committee was invited to meet her Committee during its visit to football stadia, after the summer recess. Ms Gillan suggested that the Committee should visit Hamden Park, Livingston and Hamilton Academicals grounds, as well as Murrayfield.

2. Minutes of the meeting of 10 May 2001

2.1. Minutes of the meeting of 10 May 2001 were agreed.

3. Matters arising

3.1. Para 8.1: The Committee agreed that it would await Mr Shannon's expected response from the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland regarding the implementation of the recommendation that practice sessions for the Carrowdore and Tandragee road races should take place on Friday evening instead of Saturday morning, before taking any further action.

4. Public evidence session - Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry - Lyric Theatre

4.1. The Lyric Theatre gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on the Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry.

Mr Agnew joined the meeting at 11:00am.

5. Public evidence session - Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry - Brian Waddell Productions

5.1. Brian Waddell Productions gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on the Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry.

Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 11:23am.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 11:40am.

6. Public evidence session - Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry - Cinemagic Film Festival

6.1. Cinemagic Film Festival gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on the Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry.

Mr Hilditch rejoined the meeting at 12:17pm.
Mr Davis left the meeting at 12:20pm.

7. Public evidence session - Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry - Northern Ireland Film Commission

7.1. The Northern Ireland Film Commission gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on the Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry.

8. Date of next meeting

8.1. The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 17 May at 10:15am in Room 152.

The meeting closed at 13:17pm.

E ONeill
Chairperson