About the Project
Brian Maguire Artist Residency, 2007–2008
Gwen Stevenson Artist Residency, 2009
REGENERATE was a socially engaged arts initiative working across Northern Ireland to address complex social issues through creative exchange and sustained community engagement.
Following a two-year residency by Brian Maguire, which culminated in a benefit concert by Christy Moore in November 2008, Gwen Stevenson continued the residency in the Ballygawley Road Estate in 2009. Proceeds from the concert, alongside funding from participating district councils and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, supported the continuation of the project.
Context
The Ballygawley Road Estate had long carried the stigma of neglect and division. Never officially named, it was known locally as “The Ponderosa” or “The Ponda”, reflecting its history during the Troubles as a no-go area associated with intimidation, antisocial behaviour, and sectarian violence.
As part of her REGENERATE residency, Gwen Stevenson facilitated a community-led process to formally name the estate Annaghshee. Through workshops, consultation, and sustained dialogue with residents, a collective decision was made to reclaim identity and establish a name rooted in place, history, and pride.
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Fund commissioned Darren Sutton to create a public art sculpture that would reflect and commemorate this transformation. The naming process and the sculpture were integral to the REGENERATE project, ensuring the change was not merely symbolic but visibly embedded within the physical and psychological landscape of the estate. The residency actively facilitated and delivered the renaming, positioning the arts as a catalyst for reclaiming identity and reshaping how the community saw itself and how it was perceived externally.
Project Strands
The residency developed across four interconnected strands combining creative programming, public art, and capacity building.
1. Community Arts Programme
Workshops were delivered at Loughview House for residents of all ages:
Jewellery Making , Ceramics
Parent & Toddler
Drama Workshops
Drawing Workshops
Drama workshops, delivered in partnership with MORPH youth service, initially aimed to culminate in a performance themed around hope and renewal. When this proved unrealistic within the timeframe, the focus shifted to introducing participants to live theatre and backstage experience, many for the first time.
Other initiatives included:
“Greetings from Annaghshee” postcard workshops to embed the new name in households and the wider community
Community House redecoration
Updating and documenting estate murals with the Kids Club
Annaghshee Fun & Sports Day, supported by the Community Safety Partnership
2. Capacity Building
A major focus of the residency was rebuilding the inactive residents’ association. Regular meetings were reinstated and grant funding successfully secured, including:
PEACE III Peace Building Community Garden development,
Mental Health and Wellbeing Grant
Community Safety Partnership grants
Governance issues meant the association initially lacked legal standing. Working with statutory agencies including Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council and with support from Supporting Communities Northern Ireland, steps were taken to dissolve the former association and establish the Annaghshee Community Association.
3. Securing Sustainability
Financial systems were put in place to manage funds transparently, including a dedicated account for the benefit from the Christy Moore concert, managed by community representatives.
4. Commissioning and Large-Scale Youth Mural
Building on work already underway through the SELB (Southern Education and Library Board) Youth Venture Programme, Gwen Stevenson facilitated the commissioning of a large-scale community mural.
Workshops were held regularly to engage young people in graffiti and street art practice. The design of the mural was developed in consultation with residents, community representatives, and local activists, ensuring community approval and shared ownership.
The project was delivered on behalf of Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council through the South West Cluster PEACE III Programme, with an emphasis on excellence, best value, and timely completion. The mural provided a visible, lasting marker of the estate’s transformation and offered young people meaningful participation in shaping their environment.
Impact
REGENERATE positioned the arts as a non-confrontational but powerful catalyst for:
Reducing antisocial behaviour through creative engagement
Building confidence and skills
Supporting intergenerational dialogue
Rebuilding civic structures
Fostering pride and collective identity
The transition from “The Ponda” to Annaghshee marked a profound psychological and cultural shift. While structural challenges remain, the project initiated a ripple effect of change that continues to influence the estate’s development.
PROJECT FUNDERS & PARTNERS
