Streep Lends Support to Belfast Arts Center

Monday, August 20, 2007

Hollywood screen legend Meryl Streep made a special visit to Belfast, Northern Ireland this past weekend to help raise funds for the new Metropolitan Arts Center in the city.

The new arts center will be located in the city’s Cathedral Quarter once the £16.5m needed to build the facility is raised. The project needs to raise a further £1.5m before work on the center can begin.

Two-time Oscar winner Streep took some time out from filming her latest movie, Mamma Mia!, in London to lend her support to the fundraising effort.

Streep, who is famed for her roles in such movies as Sophie’s Choice, The Devil Wears Prada and The Deer Hunter, was dressed casually in a black and white dress.

She also took the time out to talk to locals and answer questions at a special event called A Conversation with Meryl Streep; and she was later guest of honor at a fundraising dinner.

The new arts complex in Belfast is being developed by trustees of the Old Museum Arts Centre.

Streep said the new arts center would illustrate the healing power of art.

“I’m proud to come to Belfast to celebrate this city’s commitment to the center and its great good work,” she told bbc.co.uk.

“It can feel like divisiveness and the urge to destroy has won the day - that’s why the project is a cause for celebration and a template for hope.”

Meryl Streep has now returned to London to continue filming her latest film Mamma Mia!, a movie adaptation of the successful musical which features the music of ABBA.

The movie, which also stars Irish actor Pierce Brosnan, has Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson as executive producers, along with ABBA songwriters Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus.