East Belfast Partnership are delighted to unveil the latest art piece dedicated to Titanic and the shipbuilding legacy of East Belfast. This project marks the completion of their Re-Imaging Newtownards Road project that saw the successful removal of sectarian imagery at the Short Strand / Newtownards Road Interface.

Anne McMurray, Chair of the East Belfast Partnership, commented: “This project helps demonstrate a new face for East Belfast and contributes greatly to the social and economic regeneration of the area.  We would like to give special thanks to both the Arts Council and Northern Ireland Housing Executive for their support throughout this programme.”

The process to deliver this programme allowed both the Short Strand and Inner East groups to come together through arts based activity to explore the shared nature of their shipbuilding heritage and their links to Titanic; the most famous ship of all time. Cailin Hardy of the East Belfast Partnership said: “This project was welcomed by the local community as a significant tribute to East Belfast’s rich heritage and it was agreed that the removal of old sectarian imagery was part of the holistic approach to transform the area.”

Commenting on the project, Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Chair of the Shared Communities Consortium, said: “The Arts Council’s Re-imaging Communities programme has taken a sustained approach to community regeneration, helping to unlock the creative potential of local people at a neighbourhood level.

“A few months ago we saw a fantastic new artwork launched in East Belfast, representing the shared future of this community. Today it is a pleasure to see another new artwork unveiled. Working with artist Ross Wilson the community have created the Titanic mural which serves as a reminder of the area’s rich cultural heritage and provides a wonderful new welcome gateway into East Belfast.”

This iconic art piece “Ship Of Dreams” by leading Irish artist Ross Wilson is located at Kennilworth Place, Newtownards Road. "The Titanic was a ship of dreams, its reality and design began in the mind dream of one man, thousands of others helped create and rivet metal into myth: this artwork celebrates the reality of dreams, caught within one single voyage" Ross Wilson, Artist.

The Re-imaging Programme is funded by the Shared Communities Consortium, lead by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and comprising OFMDFM, DSD, DCAL, Community Relations Council, PSNI, SOLACE (Society of Local Authority and Chief Executives), The Department of Justice, International Fund for Ireland and NI Housing Executive.