The MarketPlace Theatre in Armagh is taking part in this year’s Food & Cider Festival by playing host to some foodie-themed cinema and interactive kids craft activities.
On Friday 10 September, the venue will screen the charming film, ‘Chocolat’, a cinematic love letter to chocolate (and to love itself) on. ‘Chocolat’ stars Juliette Binoche as a captivating chocolatier who brings intrigue, along with her magical confections, to a small French village. Come along and enjoy the movie as well as some chocolate treats which are included in the ticket price.
The kids can get in on the action with one of the weekend’s hands-on workshops. What better way to bake with the famous Co Armagh apple than getting creative with yummy apple cupcakes. Join the cupcake decorating workshop on 11 September which will introduce you to the skills and techniques to create amazing cupcake designs every time. You’ll get hands on experience decorating a box of twelve cupcakes to take home with themes from Disney Descendants. Learn to pipe buttercream like a pro and handle and colour using florist paste. Colour and cut sugar paste to top your cupcakes for a domed finish then complete your creations by sculpting mini apples of various colours, miniature trees and leaves from icing and to complete the look add a sprinkling of coloured sugar for a sparkling finish.
Or if cosmetics are more your thing, come along and create your very own apple themed cupcake bath bomb on 11 September. You will make a fizzy, apple green base before using the secret recipe frosting to pipe a fluffy cupcake swirl using a piping bag and nozzle. Imagination will be required as you decorate your masterpiece with an array of pretty apple themed toppings and sprinkles. Your finished product will be placed in a pretty cupcake case with a red or green ribbon and carried home in a protective dome. The only thing you have to decide is ‘Is it just too pretty to use in the bath?’
All performances will adhere to current social distancing requirements, and with full safety measures in place, you can sit back and relax as you escape from it all this Summer. Tickets for these, and many more experiences, can be purchased by contacting the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre
The Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District (BID), Destination CQ, has formally launched its Business Plan for the next five years as it enters balloting on re-establishing the improvement district for a further five years.
Damien Corr, Destination CQ manager, said the plan had been produced after extensive research amongst the BID’s levy payers and receiving feedback on areas that had been done well, and areas that may need improvement. “For the business plan we took the priorities that businesses and organisations gave us and divided them into three areas,” he explained.”
These are business support; safer, cleaner, greener; and promoting and animating the area.
“These include driving down costs for business support and delivering free training for your needs. It is about the collective voice for lobbying, being your voice with the developers that are coming into our area, with the plans that our statutory partners have.”
Mr Corr said the importance of having a collective voice for Cathedral Quarter was vital for the future.
“We’re your voice with the Department for Infrastructure, Department of Culture, the council and all statutory agencies and will continue to do so,” he said.
“We are involved in most stakeholder groups in the city and that’s something that our levy payers don’t see a lot of. It takes up a lot of our time and it’s very worthwhile.”
In terms of the safer, cleaner, greener strand of the business plan Mr Corr said that BID intends to build on existing programmes.
“We’ll continue with the PSNI street beat team to support dedicated patrols for the area,” he added.
“The work of the clean team to provide rapid response to clear litter and remove graffiti has been of enormous benefit and will continue.
“We also aim to work towards the area being green and sustainable, and there are many strategies that talk about environmental sustainability in the city in the future.
“Ultimately this will contribute to biodiversity, air quality and making a difference to people’s health and it makes an aesthetic difference too.”
Mr Corr said that respondents to an earlier survey had identified increasing footfall, championing arts and culture as well as the night time economy and these were included in the business plan area entitled promoting and animating.
“Cathedral Quarter is known as the hospitality heart of the city and that’s very important. We have 75 cruise ships coming to the city this year and we want to attract as much of that business into CQ as possible,” he said.
“We want to make sure that those who are marketing, that CQ is right up there on their must-do, must-visit, things to do.
“To make that work we can’t just live on past glories,” he said.
“As such we will continue to work very closely with the arts and cultural sector.
The Destination CQ manager said that they were also committed to Smithfield and Union.
“In the last year, we’ve worked very closely with a couple of the LGBT bars in the area creating outdoor dining space,” Mr Corr explained.
“With agreement and working in partnership with all the businesses in Union Street, we’ve had the road pedestrianised and we’re looking forward to working with the businesses to make it a destination area.”
Mr Corr said the business plan has been circulated to all levy payers and is available to any stakeholders who want to see the plans for building on success.
“We believe that Cathedral Quarter can continue to develop, we can support businesses, and we can speak for them,” he said.
“Across the world the challenge has been to cope with Covid-19, and we applaud the work of the NHS. Now we must work with everyone in Cathedral Quarter on the recovery. Our business plan is our roadmap to recovery.”
All those who are levy payers to the BID can now vote for it to continue for another five years of operation. Ballot papers have been distributed and should be returned by September 22.
To find out more about the work of Destination CQ BID, go to cathedralquarterbelfast.com or contact Damien Corr on 02890 314 011.
As the conversation around climate change heats up ahead of COP26 in November, the team behind Culture Night Belfast 2021 have stated their ambitions for an “almost 100% sustainable event” this year.
Partnering with artist and creative lead Gawain Morrison and his team to present the spectacular, experiential installation The Ogham Grove in Writer’s Square, Susan Picken, Director of Culture Night Belfast and the Cathedral Quarter Trust, said she hopes this will be one of the most sustainable and environmentally friendly Culture Nights in Belfast.
She said: “We have had a commitment to environmental sustainability for a number of years now so when we were developing the brief for CNB 2021 it was really important to us that it reflected the increasingly urgent global focus on environmental sustainability and on the need for more green, natural and shared spaces in the city.
“We have worked with Translink and other partners over the years to promote active travel, use of public transport and an environmentally responsible approach to waste, and CNB21 builds on this with an even bigger focus on the environment.”
From Friday September 17 to Sunday September 19 Writer’s Square will be transformed into a stunning, immersive, nature-inspired experience.
The Ogham Grove takes inspiration from the ancient Celtic Ogham Tree Alphabet and will see two monumental sculptures built in Writer’s Square, with themes drawn from Celtic ancestral heritage and culture.
“What is important to everyone involved in this project is sustainability and making sure that the materials used in this are not just used and thrown away. We want to be part of the ‘one more use’ thinking or accessing products that are already part of the process flow” said Gawain.
“Using and reusing products was a very important part of our concept and the actual structural delivery of things that people can see.”
Artist and engineer Neil Beattie added: “Top of the agenda is sustainability. It’s very important for all of us that the materials that we use are either reclaimed, reused or recyclable at the least.
“We want to walk away from this project with an extremely small amount of waste. Everything that is used from the timber and the natural materials to even the screws will be reused so very little goes to waste.
“Sustainability is a very important part of our values so it’s a major aspect of what we’re doing. This project allows the opportunity to make something great and be creative whilst using materials that aren’t hazardous to the environment and that is key in all of this.
“The wood we’re using is being taken from an existing process cycle so we’re just taking the materials, using them and returning them. All the timber is being reclaimed and we will be deconstructing it and using it in other projects. The material we’re using outside the structures will either be reused or given to charities like the Play Resource Centre. Nothing goes to waste.”
For artist and prop maker Dylan McCaughtry ensuring there is very little carbon footprint is important.
He said: “A lot of the construction will be made out of multi-use wood which can go straight back into the distribution system. There’s no real footprint from our use of these materials.
“The rest of the wood is reclaimed – stuff that has been used before, so we’re giving it that last bit of life. A lot of it is just about being clever with your sourcing. That’s one of the challenges I’m looking forward to.”
Prior to the pandemic, Culture Night had been one of Belfast’s largest free events, a cultural celebration that attracted almost 90,000 local, national and international visitors to the Cathedral Quarter and Belfast city centre.
As a result of the scaled back, scaled down nature of the project this year Susan Picken said having an “almost zero waste” year is “within our sights”.
She added: “The biggest change this year is that we aren’t running an open programme for submissions as in previous years.
“As a result we can be much more mindful of the impact Culture Night is having on the environment around us. There will be less infrastructure, less litter, less travel, less people and a lot less plastic ending up in landfill.
“Not just that, it will be a safe environment for people who want to experience art and culture without being concerned about the impacts of the pandemic.”
To keep up to date with updates from CNB Presents The Ogham Grove, running from Friday September 17 to Sunday September 19 go to culturenightbelfast.com or follow #CNB21 on social media.
Ards and North Down Borough Council is gearing up for an autumnal celebration of local food and drink across the Borough. Throughout September and October, you will have the opportunity to savour seasonal produce, experience some of the boroughs finest food and drink at our foodie experiences and purchase directly from local producers and suppliers at our Taste Ards and North Down food markets.
Highlights include;
Tide and Turf, Portavogie
Saturday 11 September, 12noon – 5pm
Join us for the main event on Saturday 11 September for a celebration of fantastic local produce and lots of family fun.
It will be foodie heaven, with the chance to feast on delicious treats, see live demos from great chefs, and meet our local food and drink heroes.
With great music, entertainment and lots of fun kids activities – it will be a perfect day out for foodie families!
FREE
Foodie Experiences
Enjoy unique autumn experiences celebrating seasonal tide and turf produce and showcasing some of the borough’s finest local food and drink.
Ards and North Down is well known for our wonderful local markets which have been a tradition for over 100 years. From Bangor to Comber, Newtownards to Portaferry, throughout September and October there will be lots of opportunities to join us and taste Ards and North Down’s seasonal fayre.
Foodie events are topping the menu this autumn in Ards and North Down so make a date in your diary and see visitardsandnorthdown.com/Taste for more information. There’s never been a better time to Taste Ards and North Down.
All providers will operate with COVID-19 measures in line with current government guidance.
Help us to stop the spread of COVID-19. Regular rapid lateral flow testing is strongly recommended prior to attending this event. For more information see www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/lateralflowtests
Starting this month, the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium has launched a series of Legendary Telescopes Tours. The tour takes you on a journey through the Armagh Observatory, giving you a fascinating insight into see its historic telescopes.
Armagh Observatory opened in 1790 and is now a Grade A listed heritage building in which astronomers still undertake fundamental research, and the oldest observatory in the UK and Ireland continuously in use for its original purpose. Inside the Observatory there are four generations of historic telescopes that remain in their original settings, as well as one modern telescope still used today.
Each tour is undertaken by an expert guide who will tell you about these telescopes and how they were used for pioneering science in their day.
Heather Alexander, Senior Education Officer at Armagh Planetarium and Observatory says: “Our new Legendary Telescopes Tours provides a great opportunity for people to gain a wider understanding around the work our astronomers today continue to carry out on site. We have a vast amount of unique stories to share and discover along the way. You can get your picture taken with the Grubb 10 inch and get up close and personal with the century-old Calver telescope.
“We hope these new tours will extend our visitor experience and demonstrate how much history is housed here. Plus, how the history of tomorrow is still actively being discovered and defined here in Armagh.”
Tours are running now until the 5th of September with an exclusive summer rate of £15pp. Groups are limited to 5 people plus 1 tour guide. Extras include 20% off products in Café and 10% off selected products in the Gift Shop. Book tours today via: https://www.armagh.space
The Get Wet Campaign, which kicked off this summer, is an initiative designed to get more people into watersports across Northern Ireland and encourage participants to join local water sports clubs.
The campaign has seen a range of water sport clubs based all over Northern Ireland offering local people an opportunity to ‘Have a Go’ in a variety of water sports for free or at a significantly reduced cost!
From a 5-day Sailing Summer Scheme by East Antrim Boat Club; yachting for beginners delivered by Rodger’s Quay in Carrickfergus; to St Ayles Skiff Rowing for Beginners in Killyleagh Harbour, there is something for everyone, catering for all abilities. More events launching in September.
Speaking on the campaign, Mike McClure from SportNI said: “With people looking for ways to improve their physical and mental health, water sports such as stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, open water swimming and recreational sailing have all seen a sharp increase in take up since restrictions have eased.
“This campaign is a fantastic opportunity to try out a water sport for the first time in a friendly environment under the guidance of competent coaches and instructors, and subsequently find out how you can continue to enjoy it by becoming part of a local club. It aims to encourage sustained local participation and to raise awareness of the amazing water-based recreation opportunities in Northern Ireland.
“The events offered as part of this campaign are suitable for anyone looking to get into a water sport in their area. No experience is necessary, and we have seen more and more people not traditionally associated with water sports dipping their toe into these fantastic sports.”
Some events are subject to minimum or maximum requirements specified by the event organiser: e.g., age, health, height, or weight. This is outlined in the information provided in the ‘Suitability’ section of each event. It is the participant’s responsibility to ensure they conform to the minimum requirements.
Get Wet is funded by SportNI with support from a range of water based National Governing Bodies (NGBs). The NGBs involved in this campaign are the Canoe Association of Northern Ireland, the Royal Yachting Association Northern Ireland, British Sub Aqua Club Ireland, Angling NI, Rowing Ireland, Irish Kite Surfing Association, and the Irish Water ski and Wakeboarding Federation.
The 2021 campaign is funded by Sport NI’s Build Back Better Project: Re-boot.
Thursday 19 August 2021: Derry City is warming up for the sensational return of the City of Derry International Choir Festival (CoDICF) in October when an unrivalled programme of events – including Grammy award-winners and exclusive global premier performances – will fill halls, churches and homes with world class, choral entertainment.
This special festival runs live and virtually from Wednesday 20 October until Sunday 24 October. Headline acts include the internationally acclaimed all-male chorus Chanticleer and award-winning vocal ensemble Tenebrae.
Celebrating its ninth successful year, the Festival has been carefully planned to include a synchronised mix of in-person and virtual events throughout the city as part of an immersive programme of live and digital concerts, performances, workshops, podcasts, and other events.
Over five full days, audiences will experience the elation of live music once again with a variety of exciting performances in various venues across the city, including the historic St Columb’s Cathedral, and the inspiring surroundings of the centuries-old St Columba’s Church, Long Tower.
This year’s Festival kicks off with the Opening Gala Concert on Wednesday 20 October featuring members of the Ulster Orchestra with local choirs and singers performing The Voyage. Composed and conducted by world-famous choral director Bob Chilcott, The Voyage is a deeply emotive orchestral and vocal composition depicting the voyage through life and how we come to terms with the challenges it brings.
The gala concert also introduces a brand-new Festival commission for chorus and orchestra by Northern Ireland creative production company, Dumbworld.
Thursday 21 October marks the return of the award-winning Derry chamber choir Codetta, promising to be a major highlight for the 2021 programme as they perform The Road Home in Long Tower Church with Derry cellist Kim Vaughan.
The concert includes a world premiere of newly commissioned work by Irish composer Eoghan Desmond chosen in partnership with The Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland, as part of the year-long Colmcille 1500 celebratory programme, coordinated by Derry City and Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council.
School performances will be back with a non-competitive format for primary years encouraging children and teachers to take part in the fun and community-spirited Primary Big Sing event in Millennium Forum on Thursday 21 October.
This day of singing will include a workshop led by music education expert Lucinda Geoghegan featuring songs, games and rhymes, and a specially composed piece for young voices by leading Catalan composer and conductor, Josep Vila i Casañas. Post-primary schools will return for a day of competitions and a senior Big Sing on Friday 22 October.
The Festival is also hopeful that choirs throughout the island of Ireland will return for a day of competitions in various categories including mixed voice, equal voice, youth, sacred, pop, jazz and gospel, culminating in the brand-new Choir of the Festival competition.
Friday 22 October the Festival welcomes a return visit from the UK vocal ensemble Tenebrae for a live performance in St Columb’s Cathedral. The critically acclaimed, award-winning choir is one of the world’s leading vocal ensembles famous for its passion and precision, led by its musical director and founder, Nigel Short.
The Festival’s online programme features this year’s headline virtual act, the Grammy award-winning all-male a cappella ensemble Chanticleer from San Francisco, California. They will be making their virtual debut at the Festival on Thursday 21 October with a live Zoom workshop and a bespoke recorded concert.
Renowned internationally as ‘the orchestra of voices,’ Chanticleer was founded in 1978 and remain as the ‘world’s reigning male chorus,’ performing stunning concerts to every corner of the world.
The Virtual Choral Trail returns with the inclusion of local, national and international choirs. Following a hugely successful online-only festival last year, which generated an unprecedented 250,000 views from 50 countries worldwide, choirs and ensembles can take part by submitting their best performance through the Festival website to secure their place in the 2021 online programme.
Online audiences will also enjoy the sounds of previous international winners of the Festival in a special virtual concert, as well as a series of podcasts with guest artists and a virtual symposium on the theme of words, music and composition.
Welcoming this year’s programme of events, the festival’s Artistic Director, Dónal Doherty, said:
“There is a real sense of hope among singers everywhere that we will soon be able to return to regular rehearsals and performances. Singing together is our life-blood and this shared experience has been sorely missed over the past 18 months. We cannot wait to perform together again, or to enjoy the performance of other groups, whether outdoors or in one of the beautiful indoor venues that we’ll be using for this year’s festival.”
Dónal shares how in-person and virtual events has created a new dynamic to the festival’s programme:
“The extraordinary success of last year’s virtual festival has given us the confidence to present an exciting and varied programme for Festival 2021. Derry is a very welcoming city and we look forward to an even bigger global audience, either in person or online, being able to share in and enjoy this year’s five-day celebration of song.”
The 2021 Festival is supported by Arts Council Northern Ireland, the Department for Communities, Derry & Strabane District Council, Donegal County Council, Tourism Northern Ireland, Community Foundation Northern Ireland, Inner City Trust, the Irish American Partnership and Caldwell & Robinson Solicitors.
Immersive and thought provoking installation forms CNB21 offering
The creative team behind this year’s Culture Night Belfast installation have revealed ambitious plans to create a vast structural, lighting and sound show that will fill the Cathedral Quarter’s Writer’s Square next month.
Belfast artist Gawain Morrison and his team will turn Writer’s Square into The Ogham Grove, a monumental, immersive sculpture and accompanying digital trail which will create a whole new experience for Belfast. Susan Picken, director of Culture Night Belfast and the Cathedral Quarter Trust, said the plans Gawain has presented are “spectacular” and will “provide a very unique experience to each person who visits throughout the weekend”.
She added: “Gawain and his team of artists will transform Writer’s Square with a totally innovative and spectacular artwork that will invite visitors to explore the relationship with our native woodlands and the environment.
The Ogham Grove really tapped into our concern for the environment and the devastating impact of climate change. It also restates our commitment to support and work with our incredible cultural and creative sectors here in NI.
This is a significant moment for CNB, not only is this our first large-scale artists’ commission but it also signals an exciting new format for the event as we move forward.”
The concept for The Ogham Grove takes inspiration from the ancient Celtic Ogham Tree Alphabet.
“Two monumental sculptures will be built in Writers’ Square, with themes drawn from our ancestral heritage and culture here on the island of Ireland” explained Gawain.
“The Tree Alphabet will act as the primer for learning about the Ogham characters, their meanings, and their tree associations while the Celtic Ogham Year Wheel signifies the links with our natural environment, living in harmony with it, and the awareness of our place in the universe, the lunar and solar cycles that drive the life on this planet of ours, and all of how life lives–in balance and together.
“The Ogham Grove offers a window into an alternative interpretation of the world around us, highlighting the importance that nature played in the societies of our ancestors, enabling us to reconnect with this heritage in a playful, thought provoking and visually stunning way, at a time when the natural environment and spending time outdoors has never been so important.”
Prior to the pandemic, Culture Night had been one of Belfast’s largest free events, a cultural celebration that attracted almost 90,000 local, national and international visitors to the Cathedral Quarter and Belfast city centre. The impact of COVID has led to a major review of the event however.
Susan added: “Culture Night 2021 will be much smaller in scale and scope and will take the form of an on-site installation that people can drop into and enjoy over the course of the weekend – this different format will allow us to focus on safety as well as making sure everyone has a great time.”
Gawain alongside his team, including artist and prop designer Dylan McCaughtry, designer, artist and engineer Neil Beattie, lighting designer Tomás FitzGerald and drum loop producer Damian Mills said the installation they are planing will leave visitors with “a monumental audio-visual experience that will be overwhelming both day and night.”
He added: “The actual scale of the structure itself will be impressive. The fact that at night-time the lighting will come alive will give it a very different feel from the daytime and allow people to experience it in different ways.”
The 2021 edition of Culture Night will have a completely new format and a new approach designed for a COVID-safe, post-pandemic environment. A major difference this year is the decision to suspend the previous open submission programme and instead focus on creating one central experience working directly with artists.
“One of the biggest changes this year will be that we haven’t run an open programme for submissions as in previous years” said Susan.
Susan continued “There won’t be the usual on-street activity or pop-ups that people are used to. Instead, Writer’s Square will be transformed with an exciting monumental installation, The Ogham Grove, running from Friday September 17 to Sunday September 19. This extended running time will allow more time and space to visit and experience over the weekend.”
“This will be a unique and sensory experience for anyone attending and will make for great photo opportunities” added Gawain.
This year’s Culture Night Belfast is supported by Belfast City Council, Arts Council for Northern Ireland, Tourism NI, Belfast Harbour Commissioners and Translink.
To keep up to date with all the CNB Presents The Ogham Grove updates go to culturenightbelfast.com or follow #CNB21 on social media.
Belfast’s Maritime Mile is getting ready to host a two-day festival of family fun on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 September.
The Belfast Maritime Weekender will bring Belfast’s maritime and industrial history to life and includes pockets of exciting seafaring activities stretching across Sailortown, City Quays and Donegall Quay, to Queen’s Quay and Titanic Quarter.
The weekend’s daytime and evening activities include live music and dance, nautical themed street performers, playful art and heritage installations, dance picnics for children, walking tours, a treasure trail, a pop-up market, illuminations, and much more.
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Kate Nicholl, said: “With Belfast Maritime Weekender we’re asking people to come on in and enjoy what’s on offer safely. This is our first council event since lockdown and a celebration of our amazing maritime heritage, along the spectacular Maritime Mile.
“Things are a little different this year from our usual Maritime Festival format, but we’re delighted to be giving people an opportunity to get out and about and enjoy ‘mini moments’ of fun. The experience has been designed with safety in mind, and we remind everyone coming along to keep safe and think of others as they enjoy the weekend.
“Look out for more fun-filled events and live music over the coming months as cultural activities make a welcome return to the streets of Belfast.”
The Belfast Maritime Weekender has been organised by Belfast City Council in partnership with Maritime Belfast Trust, and is supported by Belfast Harbour, Titanic Quarter Limited, the Odyssey Trust, Department for Communities and Maritime Mile partners and media partner Q Radio.
Kerrie Sweeney, CEO of Maritime Belfast Trust said: “Maritime Belfast Trust is delighted to partner with Belfast City Council on the Belfast Maritime Weekender, taking place along the Maritime Mile. The Maritime Mile may be only one navigational mile of water but it represents over 10km of iconic, heritage waterfront, comprising Sailortown, City Quays, Queens Quay and Titanic Quarter.
“Throughout the last 18 months, the city’s waterfront has become a real solace for local people to walk, run, cycle and explore. As a charity dedicated to preserving Belfast’s rich maritime heritage, Maritime Belfast Trust has worked tirelessly during this period to strengthen the outdoor experience with playful art and heritage installations, such as Soundyard and Riverbox. The Maritime Weekender is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our achievements and celebrate the re-opening of our attractions and hospitality businesses, in a safe, well managed, open-air environment.”
Ibe Sesay, presenter of Q Radio Drive, said: “After a long 18 months, Q Radio is buzzing to be part of Belfast Maritime Weekender 2021, a home-grown festival and Belfast City Council’s first major event to be held in the city since the pandemic began. Despite the huge challenges presented by the Covid-19 there is a fantastic line-up of attractions celebrating Belfast’s unique maritime history and Titanic legacy, from walking tours, street performers, live music and a pop-up market to name a few!”
While there will be no tall ships this year, Belfast will be welcoming a host of vessels and boats to the quayside, giving visitors an opportunity to climb aboard and discover more about life at sea from the visiting crews. The Irish Lights vessel ILV Granuaile and 1960s old style tug boat Brocklebank will also be in port, with a range of displays, demo racing and other on-the-water attractions all part of the weekend entertainment.
A self-led Maritime Treasure Trail is on offer with theatrical performances along the route, and a range of ticketed tours will take place daily, including Maritime Mile walking tours, photography tours, cycle tours, under the Lagan tours and Glass of Thrones walking tours. You can also catch the powerful National Geographic photography exhibition, ‘Planet or Plastic?’ courtesy of SSE Airtricity and not-for-profit organisation, Sick of Plastic.
The Belfast Maritime Weekender also marks the start of Belfast City Council’s Belfast Music programme, with gigs and performances lined up until December. Aside from buskers and live music across the Maritime Mile, a number of special performances will be happening in some unusual venues including Mindfulness Sound Bath sessions in St Joseph’s Church, an open mic night in the American Bar and a cabaret in the Drawing Office at the Titanic Hotel.
The Cathedral Quarter Trust, the organisation behind Culture Night Belfast has appointed a Creative Lead for their 2021 project.
Earlier this year Susan Picken, director of Culture Night Belfast and the Cathedral Quarter Trust, announced the event would look very different this year.
Next month the annual event will return with a new format and a new approach designed for a COVID-safe, post-pandemic environment. A key difference this year is the decision to suspend the previous open submission programme and instead focus on creating one central experience working directly with artists.
“The biggest change this year will be that we won’t be running an open programme for submissions as in previous years” said Susan.
“Instead, Writer’s Square will be transformed into a monumental, immersive cultural experience running from Friday September 17 to Sunday September 19. In addition, an intriguing interactive trail will help visitors to reconnect with, and explore the rich artistic environment of the Cathedral Quarter. ”
Artist Gawain Morrison, who has been appointed as the Creative Lead, and his team have been tasked with the job of creating a unique, COVID-safe, installation that will dominate Writers’ Square in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter across the Culture Night weekend.
“The arts and the wider community have had a particularly difficult time over the past 18 months,” said Susan, adding: “While the situation is slowly improving, It is still very important to us that we are able to reflect the changing requirements of audiences whilst ensuring that everything we do is fully COVID secure.
“We were all really intrigued and excited by Gawain and the team’s proposal and I am certain their work will bring Writer’s Square to life over the weekend whilst also linking in to our central themes of nature and environmental sustainability. We will be creating something new for Belfast, a unique space for people to enjoy, relax and appreciate the natural world.”
Gawain brings over two decades of experience in multi-platform media production and events organisation to the project alongside his team, including artist and prop designer Dylan McCaughtry, designer, artist and engineer Neil Beattie, lighting designer Tomás FitzGerald and drum loop producer Damian Mills.
Speaking of the project Gawain said: “The brief itself was very open in terms of where you could go with it, while it was site specific there was a lot to work with in terms of making it visually interesting whilst keeping within the brief of creating a city garden.
“We are planning the installation so that visitors will have a monumental audio-visual experience, it will be overwhelming both day and night.
“The actual scale of the structure itself will be impressive. The fact that at night-time the lighting will come alive will give it a very different feel from the daytime and allow people to experience it in different ways.”
Prior to the pandemic, Culture Night had been one of Belfast’s largest free events, a cultural celebration that attracted almost 90,000 local, national and international visitors to the Cathedral Quarter and Belfast city centre. The impact of COVID has led to a major review of the event however.
Susan said: “Culture Night 2021 will be much smaller in scale and scope and will take the form of an on-site installation with an interactive trail that people can drop into and enjoy over the course of the weekend – this different format will allow us to focus on safety as well as making sure everyone has a great time.”
Whilst it may be smaller in scale Gawain said it won’t be any less spectacular than previous years.
He explained: “From the moment that the Culture Night team told us we’d won this proposal to now it’s been fairly full on. We’ve been able to go from the high level concept to how do we make this happen to working with Neil and Dylan on the practical side of it in a very short space of time.
“This will be a unique and sensory experience for anyone attending and will make for great photo opportunities.”
This year’s Culture Night Belfast is supported by Belfast City Council, Arts Council for Northern Ireland, Tourism NI, Translink and Belfast Harbour Commissioners.
To keep up to date with all the Culture Night Belfast updates go to culturenightbelfast.com or follow #CNB21 on social media.
