First time arts enthusiasts from across Northern Ireland have shown overwhelming support for Audiences NI’s initiative to bring the art world to the masses – with a record 3,000 signing up in just under a year.
These would-be arts lovers, who have never been to a local live theatre or performing arts event before, have enjoyed on-the-house tickets to some of the hottest shows, celebrating the best that Northern Ireland’s rich cultural scene has to offer – all courtesy of Test Drive the Arts NI.
Cathy Mackle from Armagh became the 3,000th ‘test driver’, after logging on to the easy to use website – www.testdrivetheartsni.org. Featuring a host of Northern Ireland’s most exciting performances, the website enables users to request tickets from a broad range of must-see shows. This month Five Guys Named Moe is showing at Theatre at the Mill and the 20th Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival gets underway (11-26 November). New shows are added daily, so check the website for details.
The initiative is managed by Audiences NI – set up to boost attendance numbers to arts organisations across Northern Ireland – and funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Booking could not be easier. Simply select the performance you are interested in attending and complete the registration form online to request tickets. Tickets will be regularly available on a first-come, first-served basis, so the sooner you go online the better the chance you have of securing the tickets you want.
Audience Development Manager Christine Adams, Audiences NI, said:
“Northern Ireland has a rich cultural and artistic heritage that is enjoyed by thousands of people every year. Yet many arts lovers have not sampled the full range of arts on offer. We want to change that. The principle behind testdrivetheartsni.org is simple – it’s about giving arts enthusiasts the chance to ‘test drive’ the arts, whether that’s opera or comedy.
“There are huge benefits to using the online offering. You can browse the website in your own time and request tickets when it suits. There are few places in the world that offer the diversity and quality of performances that are readily available right here in Northern Ireland and we hope that after experiencing a live performance you will want to come back time and time again.”
“Building audiences for the arts is a priority for the Arts Council, and Test Drive the Arts NI is the perfect vehicle to attract newcomers. There’s an amazing choice of arts activities on offer out there for all ages and interests and, if they just give it a try, we know people won’t look back.”
To find out more and request tickets log on to www.testdrivetheartsni.org.