Funders

We are grateful to our funders for their vital support in helping us bring exceptional arts and cultural experiences to our community.

How we are funded

The Millennium Forum is proudly funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and supported through a Service Level Agreement with Derry City & Strabane District Council. As a registered charity, we actively seek support from charitable trusts, foundations, Grantmakers and corporate sponsors to help us deliver exceptional, inclusive, and creative arts experiences for the communities of Derry/Londonderry and beyond.

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Current Funders

As we celebrate over 25 years of artistic excellence, we are immensely grateful to all our past and present funders who have made this journey possible.

The vital funds we secure enable us to:

  • Deliver inspiring arts education and learning programmes for children and young people, including the Interact Youth Arts Festival—bringing over 50 free multidisciplinary arts workshops into the community—alongside initiatives such as Happy Stage, Open Mic, and the Creative Schools Programme.
  • Expand our Access for All initiatives, ensuring everyone can enjoy the arts through relaxed, captioned, and accessible performances, Dementia-Friendly Tea Dances, and the Moves & Melodies programme.
  • Develop a new accessible website designed to meet WCAG 2.2 standards.
  • Develop and showcase new youth musical theatre productions, providing professional facilities and performance opportunities for emerging talent.
  • Support local and regional artists, offering vital development opportunities to nurture the next generation of creative voices. Our playwright scheme is a prime example of this commitment, with mentoring provided to up-and-coming artists by local playwright Brain Foster.
  • Maintain and enhance our city-centre venue, ensuring the Millennium Forum continues to meet the highest standards of comfort, safety, and accessibility for our audiences, our recent auditorium renovation with 1000 new seats and carpeting is one example.
  • We also deeply value the support of our corporate and creative learning partners, especially those who enhance their support with collaboration with Arts & Business NI.  Their investment in our projects helps extend our impact on our community and beyond.
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Support the Millennium Forum – Donate Today

Your donation helps us continue bringing world-class theatre, community projects, and accessible arts experiences – every contribution makes a difference.

Examples of some some of our funded projects

Dementia Friendly Tea Dance

Our Dementia Friendly Tea Dance, funded by the National Lottery and supported by the GP Federation, provides a welcoming and inclusive space where older people and those living with dementia can enjoy music, dancing, and social connection in a supportive environment.

Energy Train

Energy Train, funded by the National Lottery and Nicor construction, is a DJ training programme for people aged 15+ living with a disability, providing hands-on experience, skills development, and creative expression in an inclusive and supportive environment.

Happy Stage

Happy Stage empowers local young people to explore mental health topics through the arts, fostering creativity, expression, and well-being. Supported by North West Regional College, Ulster Garden Villages, A&B NI, Find Insurance, The Sandwich Co, and Alchemy Technology Services.

Building Renovation

The refurbishment of our auditorium and surrounding areas, enhancing comfort and accessibility for all visitors, was made possible through capital funding support from Arts Council NI and the Foyle Foundation.