Inner City Trust marks 50 years of Derry regeneration with exhibition

The anniversary was marked on Thursday evening with an exhibition at the Gallery on Bishop’s Gate, followed by a panel discussion at Bishop’s Gate Hotel bringing together leading voices in heritage, regeneration and government.

The exhibition, which tells the story of the Trust and its contribution to the transformation of Derry over the past half century, will open to the public on Friday evening, September 18, as part of Culture Night.

Established in 1976 at a time when Derry city centre faced significant physical decline, economic difficulty and social deprivation, Inner City Trust has spent five decades contributing to the physical, social and economic regeneration of the city.

Over the past 50 years, Inner City Trust has been responsible for or closely involved in many of Derry’s best-known regeneration projects, including Bishop’s Gate Hotel, the Garden of Reflection and Gallery, the Craft Village, Tower Museum and the Shared Future Centre.

More recently, it completed the regeneration of 17–20 Magazine Street, bringing a group of historic buildings back into use.

That work continues today, with major projects including Austins and the former Danske Bank building, as the Trust looks towards the next generation of buildings and spaces capable of contributing to the economic and social life of the city.

The Trust’s impact also extends beyond individual buildings. Income generated through its property portfolio is reinvested for public benefit through what ICT describes as its Civic Dividend.

In 2025/26 alone, the Trust provided £82,260 in charitable support to 40 organisations across the city, alongside subsidised accommodation valued at almost £233,000.

The 50th anniversary exhibition draws on the Trust’s extensive archive of historic photographs, plans and other material to tell the story of both the organisation and the changing city.

It explores how heritage-led regeneration can continue to create opportunity, tackle disadvantage, support communities and shape Derry’s future.

The evening concluded with a panel discussion chaired by BBC broadcaster Mark Patterson, with Stella Byrne of The National Lottery Heritage Fund; Iain Greenway, Deputy Secretary at the Department for Communities; Damian McAteer of Inner City Trust; and John Meehan, Chair of Inner City Trust.

The discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities facing regeneration in Derry and the role that heritage, partnership working and locally rooted organisations can play in the city’s next chapter.

Mr. Meehan said: “Fifty years is an important milestone and an opportunity to recognise the contribution made by generations of trustees, staff, partners, funders and supporters of Inner City Trust.

“The physical transformation of Derry over that period has been remarkable, and we are proud of the role the Trust has played within that story.

“But our work has never simply been about restoring buildings. It is about what those buildings can do: creating jobs and opportunities, supporting communities, bringing activity back into parts of the city and building confidence and pride in Derry.

“There is a great deal to celebrate, but regeneration is never finished. As we enter our next chapter, our ambition is to build on what has been achieved and continue finding innovative and sustainable ways to use our heritage to help shape the future of this city.”