Practice makes perfect, or at least that’s what they say.  Twenty-eight amateur dancers are practicing over the next few weeks to strut their stuff in Belfast City Hall, on Saturday 19^th May.

By kind permission of the Rt Hon, The Lord Mayor Cllr. Nuala McAllister, who has chosen The Rainbow Project as one of her nominated charities for this year.

The event will take place during LGBT Awareness Week which in encompasses International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).  LGBT Awareness Week will see many events take place across Northern Ireland, from family fun days to art shows, from hill walking to dancing.  Showcasing the positive contribution the LGBT community brings to Northern Ireland.

The event aims to raise funds to support The Rainbow Project’s range of mental, physical and sexual health services for LGBT people and their families across Northern Ireland. The fourteen couples will go head to head on the night to receive hopeful perfect tens from our Judges Gavin Boyd, Policy and Advocacy Manager at The Rainbow Project, Ross Anderson-Doherty, Cake Daddy and Creative Director of Cabaret Supper Club, along with Guest of Honour, Lord Mayor Cllr. Nuala McAllister.

For the first time The Rainbow Project’s director John O’Doherty will be competing as a dancer with his husband Martin. O’Doherty said: ‘I’m thrilled to be able to dance in the contest for the first time as a married man. I’m so thankful for all the dancers who are giving up their time and challenging themselves in this way. And of course we are very thankful that the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Nuala McAllister has been such a supporter of The Rainbow Project during her tenure and has very kindly agreed to host us in City Hall and join us a judge on the night.’

One volunteer dancer, Aisling Twomey has said ‘I jumped at the chance to do Strictly. It was a no-brainer for me after my friends had participated in previous strictly events. Not only I am helping to support the wonderful work of The Rainbow Project by learning a new skill but it helps me personally by challenging myself to battle my nerves.  This show has all the strictly excitement about it, full on glitz and glamour!  I can’t wait to put on my sequins and dance my way to the trophy!’

Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Nuala McAllister said: “During my year in office, I’ve strived to help make Belfast a welcoming, inclusive city for all and the work of The Rainbow Project is vital in giving a voice to so many people in our city, they consistently support, advocate for and provide vital service to the LGBT+ community. The work Rainbow do helps to make Belfast the colourful and diverse city it is.

“City Hall is a wonderful venue for this fundraising event- and I am looking forward to seeing top dancers strut their stuff to help raise money for a great charity, and I’m delighted to give them my support.”

Tickets are available now and are limited, so get yours now, while you still can www.rainbow-project.org/strictly

This Summer, Seamus Heaney HomePlace will continue to play host to a wide variety of artists and authors in the 191 capacity space, The Helicon.

World renowned pianist, Barry Douglas opens the new summer programme in May at HomePlace as he performs a selection of pieces from Schubert, whose work featured in Seamus Heaney’s choices for Desert Island Discs.

The Ulster Orchestra makes a very welcome return to The Helicon alongside a wide variety of musical performers including the legendary Kieran Goss, the father and daughter duo Eliza and Martin Carthy and soulful Declan O’Rourke.

Opening June with a more literary focus, Crime writer and former tabloid reporter Val McDermid will be in conversation with Declan Burke and later in the programme Emily Wilson will be in conversation with Dr Martine Cuypers to discuss her critically acclaimed version of The Odyssey, a poem about violence and the aftermath of war.

Debuting at HomePlace will be Andrew Motion, distinguished former poet laureate, as he discusses his new collection Essex Clay. The three new fellows from the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry at Queen’s will also make their first visit to HomePlace – Peter Wilson (who performs as Duke Special), Jo Baker and Doireann Ní Ghríofa.

This programme not only reflects on local born talent but also reaches a national and international dimension with a group of Santa Barbara’s Poets Laureate visiting in July, while the amazing Indian poet, journalist and dancer, Tishani Doshi, will be performing in June.

Coming to the end of this season’s programme, visitors will experience ‘About The Place’ – a series of events inspired by the work of Seamus Heaney and WB Yeats, combining music, conversation, books and theatre. An opportunity for a unique poetry experience will be available at the “Poetry Brunch”. The audience will be transported to a secret location in the landscape surrounding HomePlace for a special afternoon of poetry readings and music.

Tickets are now available for the summer programme at www.seamusheaneyhome.com or call the box office on 02879387444.

Unleash your inner artist at North Down Museum, Bangor on Friday 20 April when the museum once again opens its doors for a very special art event – Arts Night At The Museum.

Now in its third year, Arts Night is back giving everyone the opportunity to experience a whole range of art activities – visitors can expect everything from sketching to clay work or just sit back and listen to some music!

The historic museum building will be filled with art to experience, participate in or observe at this fun event for the whole family. From the Viking Room to the café, come and explore the museum in a different way!

Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Arts Officer, Patricia Hamilton, said: “We are delighted to be hosting Arts Night at the Museum once again. This is a fantastic event which allows people to experience and try out all kinds of art activities. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the range of activities on offer so we would encourage everyone to come along and join in the fun.”

People are invited to be the artist, whether guided by professional artists, or by taking part in art activities. The event is an excellent opportunity to explore your own creativity whilst interacting with artists. While you’re there, don’t forget to browse the museum’s many current exhibitions.

Admission is free for this event and for all activities. The café will be open on the evening, and there will be some great live music to add to the vibrant atmosphere.  The event runs from 6pm to 9pm.  Find information on www.northdownmuseum.com or 028 9127 1200

 

Holywood’s annual May Day event on Monday 7 May will resound with music and dance thanks to some very special guests, the Watoto Children’s Choir.

The Ugandan choir will brighten the town centre with their vibrant performance during the afternoon of the day-long event.  Holywood is one stop on the Choir’s 12 day tour of Northern Ireland.

Each child in the Watoto Children’s Choir has suffered the loss of one or both parents and now lives in a Watoto village.  The Choir has travelled the world, taking the opportunity to share the children’s’ talents and their plight with enthralled audiences; Ards and North Down Borough Council is delighted to welcome the choir to Holywood.

This year Merry May Day has an enchanting spring and floral theme and although Watoto Children’s Choir is a highlight, the full day programme offers fun for all ages.  Bringing the spring theme to life, Floris the mystical flower nymph will be gliding through the crowds in her beautifully adorned globe – this captivating display will be a first for Northern Ireland!

Working in partnership with Holywood District Community Council, the event will see a number of much loved favourites returning: the crowning of the May Queen, the Bonny Baby competition and of course the fancy dress competition, which always sees fantastic displays of effort. This year children are invited to come along as mini Kings and Queens, Super Heroes and their favourite storybook characters.

Local school children will be taking part in choreographed dancing around Ireland’s only maypole and for any little ones inspired to do their own dance, ‘Jump, Jiggle and Jive’ will be on hand with their mini maypole and exciting games, plus so much more that is sure to entertain the whole family.

Edible treats and those who love a bargain will enjoy the market and stalls on offer in the town, housed between the wonderful eateries and boutiques that Holywood has to offer.

This free event is the perfect way to spend the day so make it Holywood this May Day, 10am-4pm.

More details on Merry May Day can be found on visitardsandnorthdown.com, or call 028 9127 0069.

 

New Exhibition – Lindsay Seers – Every Thought There Ever Was

4 May – 29 July 2018

The MAC are delighted to be the first venue for Every Thought There Ever Was, a major new touring exhibition by artist Lindsay Seers. Through digital animation, special effects, drawing and sound design, Every Thought There Ever Was explores the extraordinary brain functioning that occurs in the condition of schizophrenia. Incorporating industrial robotics in conjunction with a three-screen video projection, the work is shaped by philosophical ideas and scientific research concerned with the phenomenon of consciousness.

The work draws on an experimental treatment known as Avatar Therapy, in which those living with schizophrenia can speak to their persecutors in a digital world. Guided by first person accounts and a collaborative drawing exchange, Seers’ work has been shaped by conversations with scientific partners including Anil Seth at The Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science and Chris Frith, Emeritus and Professor of Neuropsychology, UCL to explore the current studies and thinking on the condition.

Pursuing her on-going fascination with how an individual’s biography embodies history, Seers takes Victorian surgeon James Miranda Barry as her narrator. Barry transcends time through a connection with the offspring she gave life to, by performing a ground-breaking emergency Caesarean section operation. Barry’s future life sees her manifest as an Avatar with an ability to cure.

Hugh Mulholland, Senior Curator at the MAC says: “This major new work is the result of extensive research with leading practitioners who are working to develop new treatments for and understanding of schizophrenia.  Into this research Lindsay weaves the experiences of those living with the condition and presents us with a powerful, compelling and complex work”.

The exhibition will premiere at the MAC, Belfast from May 4th to July 29th, 2018. Following this it will tour to Focal Point Gallery, Southend-On-Sea, from September 8th to December 23rd, 2018.  In 2019 it will tour to Hospitalfield and in 2020 to John Hansard Gallery.

Every Thought There Ever Was is supported by Wellcome and is co-commissioned by Matt’s Gallery, London; The MAC, Belfast; Focal Point Gallery, Southend-On-Sea; Hospitalfield, Arbroath; and John Hansard Gallery, Southampton.

This exhibition has been supported by National Lottery funding through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

The North Armagh Off Road Section promotion of the opening round of the 2018 Maxxis British Sidecarcross Championship, supported by Lisburn Bitmac & Asphalt, has been given an International boost by the late entry of Dutch Crew Joarno van den Boomen & Kenny van Gaalens, multi European OMBA Champion and a top ten World Championship crew.

 

Van Boomen has finished as high a fourth in Grands Prix, and his experienced passenger has crewed Koel Hermans and 10 time World Champion Daniel Willemsen at World Championship level.

 

Their R2R WSP KTM 600 will be an unusual specification for the British Championship as this will be the only right hand chair in the race, but this crew are used to running with left & right hand chairs as this is common in the World Championships.

 

They will face tough opposition with 18 times British Champion Stuart Brown heading the entry with Joe Millard on board the AMS engine WSP, a change from his usual Zabel two stroke.

 

Another regular GP runner is Brett Wilkinson and his passenger Dan Chamberlain, mounted on their usual Zabel 700 two stroke WSP, the runner up for the past few years will be hoping for a better day this year in the sand of Desertmartin as he had some bad starts last year.

 

Local interest centres on Lisburn crews Gary Moulds with new passenger Niki Adair on their CMV AMS 665 supported by local Hillsborough firm Grahams Fit Out, Gary of course, made his debut win here last year with GP passenger Steve Kirwin on board, but new passenger Niki Adair has stepped manfully into the chair, and they currently lie second in the Ulster & Irish Championships although lack of practice over the wet winter may hamper their performance.

 

Their perennial rival, multi Ulster Champion Neil Campbell with English passenger Craig Parmenter on board will be hoping to repeat Gary’s local win last year, and with 91 Ulster & Irish wins, and an unbeaten run so far, this could be their year on the Lewis Tower Cranes entered, WSP &00 Zabel.

 

The starts will be crucial over the three races, and there is lots of local talent in the field to make it interesting for the spectators with the Ingram cousins Geoff & David, our only female driver Emma Moulds with her new passenger Alan Gardner and Dean Faulkner & Gordon Ringland all out to use their local knowledge against some of the best in the World.

 

Racing starts at 11.00 with practice and qualifying from 0900, and Desertmartin Motocross circuit is off the main Desertmartin to Maghera main road and will be signposted,  entry is only £5.00 for a day of top class entertainment.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has launched a free programme which has been designed to help the growth of local businesses by helping them learn new skills and develop confidence to make the most of the vast digital retail opportunities available.

The Digital Retail Therapy Programme is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland and will be delivered by a host of industry experts. It will include four events giving helpful insights to develop knowledge and skills and a digital mentoring programme providing an in-depth diagnostic audit for businesses of their digital capabilities and 15 hours of free one-to-one mentoring across a range of topics including website and social media marketing, data and analytics, geo-marketing tactics and search engine optimisation.

The first free event, ‘Inspire, Innovate and Invest with New Opportunities in Digital Retail’ takes place on Tuesday 24 April from 9am – 1pm in Armagh City Hotel and topics being covered will include making the most of your website, digital storefronts, retailer marketplaces and how to drive retail through social media.

Attendees will have the chance to hear from digital experts who have helped local and global businesses achieve success including multi-award winning digital marketing consultant Niamh Taylor, Kirsty Nixon who has worked with brands including Sliderobes, the Financial Times and Chain Reaction Cycles and Stephen Kinkaid from website design company, Kobault. A local company will share the benefits they have found since bringing retailing across to digital platforms.

Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge, Craigavon Borough, Alderman Gareth Wilson said: “With a wealth of opportunities on offer in the digital sector, it is important to us that our local businesses are equipped with the right skills and knowledge to tap into this potential. The Digital Retail Therapy Programme will allow local businesses to benefit from insightful events and a mentoring programme providing them with invaluable support and guidance. With the ability to drive long term success for local businesses – this free programme is one not to be missed.”

Niamh Taylor, director of Digital 24 said: “There are over one billion websites on Google alone with the search engine processing approximately 64,000 searches per second, which is why it is vital for businesses, big and small, to have a better understanding of the fundamental concepts of digital marketing. The Digital Retail Therapy Programme is an excellent opportunity for local businesses to achieve this and to gain the knowledge on how to develop and implement a successful digital retail strategy.”

For further information visit www.digitalretailtherapyprogramme.com or to sign up for the first FREE event go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inspire-innovate-and-invest-with-new-opportunities-in-digital-retail-tickets-44833518260. Call 07737 122955 or email hello@digitalretailtherapyprogramme.com to find out more.