Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s launches FREE FESTIVAL FRIDAY
In celebration of this year’s festival, Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s, Ulster Bank and Arts & Business NI, have hidden a number of artworks across 11 areas of Belfast, Moira, Glengormley, Bangor, Holywood, Lisburn and Newtownabbey for the public to find and keep as part of their latest campaign entitled FREE FESTIVAL FRIDAY. From parks to public buildings and open spaces, prizes could be anywhere.
Watch out in these areas every Friday to your chance to find a prize and let the festival team know what you’ve found to be entered in to a competition to win a bigger prize. Follow the hashtag #BelFestFFF on facebook.com/mybelfastfestival @belfastfestival every Friday until Friday 10th October for hints and clues as to the whereabouts of this hidden treasure and bag yourself a free artwork. Keep your eyes peeled on Culture Night, Friday 19th September, when 70 prizes will be hidden, 50 of which will be expertly concealed in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. Also, Artist, Orry Robinson, from Lurgan won a competition to brand the FREE FESTIVAL FRIDAY piano which will travel around Belfast bringing music everywhere it goes. From chopsticks to concertos, the key is for everyone to have a go!
Sean Murphy, Regional Manager Branches NI, Ulster Bank, said: “FREE FESTIVAL FRIDAY is an excellent example of what the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s is all about – it’s inclusive, it’s fun and it demonstrates that the Festival is an event that’s built around local communities. At Ulster Bank through our partnership with the Festival, we want to offer as many people as possible a passport to the arts. This initiative is a great way of helping bring that about and connecting people to the world-class events coming to Belfast.”
Richard Wakely, Director, at the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s, commented, “FREE FESTIVAL FRIDAY is a fun and entertaining way for everyone in the city to get involved with the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s. The Festival belongs to the people of Belfast and this is our way of reaching out to every corner of the city to get people involved and I look forward to seeing communities and groups throughout this vibrant city embracing this year’s Festival.”
Brona Whittaker, Arts Manager, Arts & Business NI, remarked “The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s has something for everyone and FREE FESTIVAL FRIDAY is another clever way of engaging with both new and existing audiences. The idea certainly grabs the imagination of all ages and will engage inquisitive minds in this fun festival campaign, stretching out into the community, ensuring the festival message extends its reach. We wish them every success for the 2014 festival.”
The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s presents great and diverse works of art from home and abroad, bringing audiences something very special that they cannot see elsewhere, all combining to deliver one unique festival which runs throughout the city from 16 October – 1 November. The 2014 Festival features 26 premieres, performers from 18 different countries and 110 events covering classical and contemporary music, film, dance, theatre, talks and visual arts.
The Festival would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and public sector funders including Title Sponsor, Ulster Bank, Principal Funder, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Queen’s University, Belfast City Council, British Council, O2 International Sim, Belfast Harbour, Arts & Business NI and Department for Social Development, plus, the many venues, performers and partner organisations whose commitment and passion bring the arts to life for all to enjoy.
The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s box office is now open with some shows sold out. Check-in at www.belfastfestival.com