• Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission (NIMIC) has been supported by LEDU to raise the profile of the local music industry. Success in promoting the industry abroad and developing new business opportunities will be the key focus of this industry-led group. • ACNI is introducing an Artist in Education Scheme, which will complement and build upon existing curriculum provision. The scheme, which will come into operation in the academic year 2001/2, is primarily designed to foster a greater knowledge and appreciation of the creative world of artists’ work. Flexible residencies of up to six months’ duration will be supported for artists working in schools and other learning environments. • Dreamlab, a business development programme for a cluster of creative companies has been developed by Dream Ireland, and will commence in September 2001. • The Information Age Initiative, established by DETI, has already provided support to a number of creative projects which demonstrate innovative use of the latest Information and Communications Technology. It intends to have a second call for projects under Peace II in September, and one strand of this will be for creative projects which meet both the Peace II and the Information Age Initiative objectives, namely Digital Creativity. • Initiatives including the showcase Northern Odyssey event and the Diversity 21 Awards have acknowledged the value and importance of celebrating our cultural diversity. • The DE and the Department of Education and Science in Dublin have each agreed to provide additional funding over the next three years to help expand the work of the Pushkin Prizes, North and South. • DHFETE has been piloting a highly successful initiative which allows Further Education lecturers to spend time in a work environment experiencing current work practices. Opportunities have progressed in software, engineering and tourism which provide models for developing skills and knowledge in the creative sector.
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