Rural Development Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA has officially opened the Creative Industries Workspace Facilities at Manderwood Park in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh.

The "SOURCE Developing Rural Creativity" project is supported through the EU Community Initiative INTERREG IIIA Programme and is a cross border initiative involving Leader groups in counties Fermanagh, Leitrim and Sligo.

The project seeks to harness individual creativity, skill and talent within the three counties as well as generating growth in the creative industries sector. Manderwood Ltd was successful in securing INTERREG funding of €149,496 from the "SOURCE" project to develop workspace units specifically targeted to the creative industries sector.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister said: "I congratulate the partners on their vision in developing the 'SOURCE' project, which brings together a diverse range of people from both sides of the border sharing a common focus on the development of the creative industries sector in counties Fermanagh, Sligo and Leitrim.

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"Creative industries can make a huge contribution to the economy of disadvantaged rural areas and Manderwood Park offers businesses the opportunity to flourish and grow through developing partnerships, sharing ideas and best practice in a supportive environment."

Mr Trevor Armstrong, Chairman of 'SOURCE' Management Committee commented: "We are very excited to see the launch of the Manderwood Workspaces which will help to promote the Creative Industries sector in the region. We believe that the workspaces will help to cultivate and inspire an entrepreneurial culture, which in turn will stimulate activity with self employed and business starts.

"The workspace facilities will involve utilising a portion of the Manderwood Park building and will help to rejuvenate the area by enabling a group of creative enterprises to locate their business in a collective environment."

The development of the creative workspace facilities breathes new life into the Sir Richard Arkwright factory that over the years has provided many jobs for the Lisnaskea area. The funding enabled Manderwood Ltd to convert the disused factory space into 9 units, averaging 1,500 – 2,000 square feet that are self-contained and suitable for workshop or office space, or a combination of both.

The new facilities offer low cost workspace for those working in the creative industry, a diverse and exciting sector that includes craft, design, fashion, software and computer services, architecture, the performing arts, advertising and public relations, publishing and the media.

The overall 'SOURCE - Developing Rural Creativity' project received funding of €878,416 under the EU IntErreg IIIA Ireland / Northern Ireland Programme through DARD in NI and Border Action in Ireland.

(GK/JM)