A multi-layered Minister: Nelson McCausland interview
Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister Nelson McCausland tells Meadhbh Monahan how his personal beliefs affect his work and how he defines an inclusive Northern Ireland.
“I sometimes refer to Northern Ireland as like the centre of Downpatrick. When you go to the bottom of the hill there are three streets that meet at the traffic lights: Irish Street, Scots Street and English Street. That’s what Northern Ireland is, a mixture of all three,” McCausland begins.
The Culture Minister is passionate about the right to self-identification. “Whether someone has an Ulster-Irish background, an Ulster-Scots background or a British background – whatever it is – they should feel that their cultural identity is respected and accommodated within society,” he says.
Identity in Northern Ireland is “a multi- layered thing,” according to McCausland and it is that mixture which “makes us special” and different from England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. He highlights the fact that he has “a whole series” of identities: national, regional, cultural, political and religious. “I’m not just something that’s neatly packaged as: ‘If you’re one of them, you have to be all of them.’”
Because of this mix of identities, there are also a range of cultural traditions and the Minister claims he is acutely aware of the need for parity.
“It’s about respect for them, recognition that they exist [and making sure that] resources are allocated to different traditions fairly. Every tradition should be represented in the decision-making process,” he remarks.
The need for agreement can cause hold- ups. A plan for £110 million investment for Windsor Park, Ravenhill rugby ground and Casement Park is awaiting approval following the failure to reach a conclusion on the development of a multi-sports arena on the site of the old Maze prison in 2009. That venture is now in doubt until the region’s Budget is announced.
Funding for Ulster-Scots and Irish has also been a contentious area but the Minister tells agendaNi: “I’m of a view that these languages and cultural traditions are part of our cultural wealth. They should be valued. They are of value in themselves. They are of social and economic value. Culture should enhance our lives and society.”
Shared future
When asked what a shared future means to him, the replies: “To me a shared future is one that is based around the core principles of equity, diversity and inter- dependence. You can’t pick out or prioritise. I look on it as a three-legged stool; you need all three to keep the thing stable.”
He says that the region’s diversity must be recognised. In addition, “we need to treat all traditions equitably and we need to build social cohesion and inter- dependence.” However, he concedes that the “practical outworking” of that can be a problem therefore he has “made it a priority” in his department and the arms- length bodies.
Sectarianism is still very much prevalent in Northern Ireland, McCausland adds. “It is an issue that, with time, we can address. Part of the issue is not just sectarianism; it’s the legacy of the Troubles. Thirty years of terrorism has left a legacy here that will take time to heal. “Sometimes we look at a situation and say it’s the result of sectarianism but we need to remember that that deep hurt that has been caused over the years is not going to be resolved quickly,” the Minister says.
To tackle sectarianism DCAL is trying to create a ‘model of diversity’ across its relevant sectors – culture, arts, museums, libraries and sports. “People need to feel that they are being treated fairly and equitably. I am keen on that principle about equity, respect and understanding,” McCausland states.
McCausland wants to work with the GAA so that people can play for the organisation “whether they are unionist or nationalist, or whatever.”
The Minister adds: “People should be able to identify themselves and that’s why I argue strongly for respect for that diversity whether it be in our museums, libraries or any institutions.”
Alternatives
McCausland was criticised for writing to the Ulster Museum asking them to incorporate alternative beliefs as to the origin of life in its evolution exhibition. When asked if he should allow his religious beliefs to influence him as Culture Minister he replies: “Personal faith iscentraltowhatIam.Formeasa Christian, the core elements are that we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and love our neighbours as ourselves.
“I would therefore seek to be respectful of people. I would seek to give a good day’s work and a full commitment to my job. I would seek to be compassionate to people and to show Christian love. If those are things that cause a problem for someone, I can’t see how. Those are things that surely enhance your contribution.”
In relation to the letter he says: “What I wrote and what some people began to think I wrote were two very different things. I simply said, ‘would they consider the possibility of finding ways in which alternative theories of the origin of life and the origin of species might be accommodated?’”
The conversation with the museum is ongoing on “a range of issues,” including the absence of Orange Order and Ancient Order of Hibernians regalia and banners. “The key theme in the letter was around a shared future and inclusivity,” McCausland contends.
He claims that approximately 20-30 per cent of people in Northern Ireland “hold either to intelligent design or creationism” and asks: “If that’s part of the population of Northern Ireland should they not be recognised? Do we airbrush people out of the story?”
On his blog, the Minister wrote about a trip to the North Carolina Museum of Art, which is in situated in the ‘Bible belt’ and reflects that community’s beliefs. He wrote: “I do not detect in Northern Ireland the same willingness to reach out to the evangelical Christian community. I would suggest that it is because there are not many evangelical Christians in the ‘cultural establishment’ and therefore it is easy to create a cultural consensus that ignores the culture of that sector of society.”
He explains his comments to agendaNi saying that those Americans “are much more accommodating and liberal” regarding religious beliefs.
“We don’t want to be narrow-minded or bigoted about things. We want to be liberal and inclusive therefore the views of people from [the evangelical Christian] community deserve to be respected,” he insists.
DCAL has made audience development a priority and McCausland thinks that more could be done to accommodate potential audiences that are not being reached at the minute. He cites Belfast Music Week as an example.
“A huge swathe of the music was Irish traditional music in public houses. Now, unless you are the sort of person who enjoys going to a public house, you are probably not going to go,” he reflects.
“There was music from a whole range of genres but there one element that was missing was Christian music.” McCausland says that because “it’s part of the musical spectrum of Belfast” it should be accommodated.
“Everyone should have their place and shouldn’t be pushed aside and forgotten about,” he adds.
A play about American songwriter Stephen Foster whose family were from the North West, will soon be shown in Derry’s Playhouse. The Minister hopes this will have a wide appeal even to people who are not normally theatre goers.
Being a member of the Orange Order, and being caught up in protests, most recently in Ardoyne, is another facet of his “multi-layered” identity.
“There are issues every single day that are contentious and yes parades and protests are contentious, or are contended is a better way of putting it, because if there were no protests there wouldn’t be an issue,” he remarks.
In response to the counter-argument, that there would not be a protest if there was no parade, McCausland states: “There are things in life I don’t like but I just have to accept the fact that others do like them. That’s a fact of life and that’s where tolerance comes in.
“Why should there be a problem about a group of people walking home along a road in my constituency on an evening when normally there’d be very few people about anyway? Are they not entitled to use that road the same as anyone else on their way home?” he asks.
Economy
With Stormont currently in the process of agreeing a Budget, each department is in the “arguing its case”.
McCausland notes: “Every department will see some impact.”
DCAL is “robust in presenting the case for arts and culture,” according to the Minister. Ways of generating other income must be found through private sector sponsorship. Arts and Business already do an important job here, he says.
To achieve better value for money, DCAL “need to look at increasing audiences and generating income through the box office.”
With speculation that health will be ring- fenced, McCausland warns that that would result in a doubling of the cuts across other departments.
“The days are gone when Northern Ireland and Belfast in particular was the engineering powerhouse,” the Minister states. The region is now in a position where it needs to look at alternatives such as cultural tourism and creative industries.
These are potential areas of growth because Northern Ireland has “cultural wealth and diversity.”
“I’m encouraged that we are seeing Northern Ireland becoming a place which people see as a potential location for film-making. There is a potential for tens of millions of pounds and that should be encouraged,” McCausland suggests.
Northern Ireland’s skills and attributes make it a particularly attractive location. “Because we are an English-speaking area, in terms of cost we are comparatively cheap. There are lots of skills. The digital economy is an important area of growth,” McCausland continues.
“There are 40 million Americans whose ancestors are Scotch-Irish or Irish Americans. Let’s look at how we can tap
into that market. I know it’s a difficult economic situation at the moment but we should be preparing for the future so that we get more and more folk coming here as tourists.”
The fact that the region has so many talented sportspeople means “we make our mark on the world stage.”
The minister gives a number of examples.
“We did incredibly well at the Commonwealth Games. We had three gold, three silver and four bronze. We were about the thirteenth most successful country and for a little place like Northern Ireland, that’s not bad.”
He praises golfers Graeme McDowell and
Rory McIlroy for drawing attention to golf, cyclist Wendy Houvenaghel, and rowers from the region who competed on the British team in recent rowing competitions.
McCausland also compliments the regions’ skills in drumming and piping.
“If you look across a whole range of cultural expressions, Northern Ireland is recognised as particularly strong,” he says.
Northern Ireland has “a lot going for us” and the Minister concludes: “We need to celebrate it and use it to its best effect for economic growth.”
