The Crescent Arts Centre (or simply The Crescent) is an arts centre based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, founded in 1980. The centre hosts a wide range of arts and entertainment events, as well as classes in dance, music, verbal and visual arts, and community outreach programmes. Its facilities include a dance studio named after its late patron, the choreographer and Holocaust survivor Helen Lewis. The centre also organises two major annual events; a dance festival in June (City Dance) and a literary festival (The Belfast Book Festival, formerly Between the Lines) in March/April. The Crescent is housed in the former Victoria College on University Road in the Queens Conservation Area. The current patron of the centre is Paul Muldoon. Refurbishment The Victorian-era listed building was extensively refurbished between 2008 and 2010. In September 2008, then Minister of Culture Arts and Leisure, Gregory Campbell, announced the awarding of capital funding to allow refurbishment of the University Road site to get underway. The total cost would be £7.2million. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure provided £4.5million; the Arts Council of Northern Ireland £1.45million; the Heritage Lottery Fund £447,000; and the then Environment and Heritage Service £525,900. The Crescent itself contributed £236,000 and has appointed fundraising consultants to raise the rest. References Buildings and structures in Belfast Art museums and galleries in Northern Ireland Arts centres in Northern Ireland Culture in Belfast Grade B+ listed buildings