Creative Peninsula – Northern Ireland’s premier celebration of Art and Craft, will showcase the Borough’s most talented artists and makers at the Twilight Market and Arts Night event next Friday, 4 August. Formerly known as ‘Craft in the Square’, this year’s event has been renamed and moved to the later time of 4pm – 9pm.

For one evening only, Conway Square and Ards Arts Centre in Newtownards will be transformed into a creative hub with 28 artists and makers displaying and selling their work. 

With a selection of ceramics, textiles, print, paintings and mixed media on offer and a drop-in area for children’s arts and crafts. Meanwhile, Ards Arts Centre will be alive with creative activity, so make sure to drop in and try your hand at printing, painting or drawing and watch artists at work, demonstrating their techniques.

Taking place throughout August, Creative Peninsula, which is now in its 22^nd year, offers a range of free and bookable opportunities for people of all ages and levels of experience to see, learn about and even ‘try their hand’ at some of the many art and craft forms that are practiced in the local area.

Other highlights include;

Alfresco Demonstrations at North Down Museum: be inspired as you watch the Artists and Makers at work in the Courtyard of North Down Museum. There will be free demonstrations on offer throughout the afternoon and some hands-on activity to try yourself. Sunday 6 August. Free admission.

Bangor Art Tour and Tipple: join this walking tour of Bangor to visit three creative spaces where you can meet the makers and try your hand at making a print, enjoying a tipple along the way. Wednesday 2 August, £12. Booking essential.

Open Studios: some of the Creative Peninsula Artists have opened their studios to deliver workshops. For full details of participating artists and how to book, visit the Creative Peninsula website.

Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Jennifer Gilmour said:

“Ards and North Down boasts one of Northern Ireland’s most vibrant creative communities, with a remarkable concentration of talented artists and crafts people. The Creative Peninsula offers visitors an unparalleled opportunity to witness the very best of local arts and crafts and interact with the talented creators behind the artwork.”

View the full Creative Peninsula 2023 programme at: https://creativepeninsula.andculture.org.uk/

You can also pick up a programme and find out more information on all the events on offer from Ards Arts Centre or North Down Museum.

Belfast’s rich maritime history and spirit of innovation will take centre stage with a host of free family activities on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September.

The Belfast Maritime Festival will take place along the city’s Maritime Mile, with activities stretching across Queen’s Quay to HMS Caroline in the Titanic Quarter.

Visitors can enjoy nautical-themed fun from 11am each day, including live music and pop-up performances, street entertainers and the colourful Belfast Bazaar, featuring the very best local produce and crafts.

The first ever ‘Science Street’ on Titanic Slipways will host an array of fun interactive activities, demonstrations and live shows exploring topics such as navigation, marine biology, climate change and biodiversity. Whether you’re a seasoned science enthusiast or a curious learner, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

The youngest crew members will love the hands-on activities delivered by Wee Critters and Mini Explorers over at the Kids’ Zone at Queen’s Quay, while a flotilla of vessels and ships will dock at Queen’s Quay and Belfast Harbour Marina, where visitors can hop on board to meet the crew and experience life at sea.

The visiting ships will include Granuaile (Irish Lights), Leader, Brian Boru and La Malouine.

A diverse music programme, featuring over 40 leading musicians from across NI, will take place in outdoor venues across the Maritime Mile, celebrating homegrown talent and marking Belfast’s status as a UNESCO City of Music.

Featuring Americana, trad, jazz, opera, bluegrass, classical, indie and folk artists, highlights will include the Maritime Festival Showcase on Saturday 9 September, with four leading singer-songwriters and NI Music Prize winners, premieres especially commissioned for the festival, new collaborations and a 30-piece brass band. Then, on Sunday 10 September, come and experience the power of 25 opera voices performing much-loved classic works together, presented by the award-winning Northern Ireland Opera.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy, said: “I’m really excited by what’s on offer at this year’s Belfast Maritime Festival – always a very popular event with local families, as well as visitors travelling into Belfast to enjoy the festival.

“The diverse line-up of free events and activities really brings our maritime and industrial heritage to life, while the sight of ships docking along the spectacular Maritime Mile is always something to be enjoyed.

“The addition of ‘Science Street’ offers visitors the chance to celebrate Belfast’s spirit of innovation and will inspire future generations to explore more, while there’s so many opportunities to enjoy the very best of our local talent, through live music and street theatre performances, great food and handcrafted products at the Belfast Bazaar.

“I’d encourage everyone to put Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September in their diaries and get on board for a weekend of fun!”

The Belfast Maritime Festival has been organised by Belfast City Council and is supported by Tourism NI, delivered in partnership with Maritime Belfast Trust, Belfast Harbour, Odyssey Trust, the Department for Communities and Titanic Quarter Ltd.

Aine Kearney, Director of Events at Tourism NI, said: “Tourism NI is delighted to support the return of the Belfast Maritime Festival, a much-needed post-pandemic boost to the wider tourism and hospitality industry with a projected economic benefit of circa £1.5 million.

“The event is a great opportunity to showcase this key Titanic and Maritime Belfast heritage destination and its wealth of visitor experiences. This immersive event will further awaken the giant spirit in our visitors, igniting their sense of discovery and demonstrating the warm welcome Northern Ireland offers to all.”

Visitors attending the Belfast Maritime Festival are encouraged to walk, cycle or take public transport to reach the event activities.

Walk or cycle along the quaysides all the way to HMS Caroline. Cycle parking is available outside Titanic Belfast and there are also Belfast Bike docks at the SSE Arena and SS Nomadic.

You can also hop on the Glider from Belfast city centre directly to the Titanic Quarter or travel by train to Titanic Quarter Halt.

For more event information, visit belfastcity.gov.uk/maritime

The Market Place Theatre in Armagh has plenty lined up to keep the youngsters entertained this summer.

On Saturday 5 August, Banyan Puppet Theatre returns with their production of ‘Little Red Riding Hood’. A playful and imaginative re-telling of the timeless Brother Grimm’s story, this is the tale of a curious young girl who weaves her way through the wintery woods to her grandma’s house in a journey full of surprises. A blend of live performance, puppet operation and visual invention, ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ is suitable for 3-11 year olds, with tickets only £26 for a family of 4.

For those kids who are a little more hands-on, there will be plenty of workshop fun to be had. On Saturday 12 August, 5-12 year olds can join the ‘Oh We Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside’ workshop which will allow youngsters to create a quirky colourful beach scene featuring cute summer-ready characters, using air drying clay.

Then on Saturday 19 August, children aged 7-12 can make a splash creating your own Merpeople. Let’s start by making them a magical underwater world to live in. It will be a mixed media extravaganza, using a wide variety of materials to create a three-dimensional nautical artwork. There will be painting and designing, with lots of decorations available to add that extra touch to your piece [sequins anyone?]. Perfect opportunities to free their imaginations!

Tickets for all performances and workshops can be booked online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre, or through the Box Office on 03300 561 025.

And to keep up-to-date with the latest news at the Market Place Theatre, you can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) where you will find all the latest information, special offers and video previews.

ALTHOUGH most road racing fans love to watch the big Superbike and Supersport Races at the Armoy Road Races there are also a fair number of fans who love the sound and smell of a Classic bike.

This year at the Armoy Road Race there is another good entry of modern and pre 73 classic bikes. None more so than the exotic MV3 350cc ridden by English rider Andy Hornby. The last one raced in Ireland was likely to be by multiple world champion, Giacomo Agostini, in the late 60s.

There are also the modern classics like the Davis Motorsport Yamahas ridden by Dominic Herbertson and Paul Jordan, plus Dave Suddes on the Harris Yamaha to name but a few.

There has also been a lot of interest for the Steadplan Sales Classic Superbike race with some memorable bikes from the 80s and 90s where Phillip Crowe from Market Rasen is on a Suzuki XR69 and Whitby’s John Cliffe is on a Harris Suzuki F1.

This year Fay Stewart is sponsoring the Senior Classics and will see many riders including Ian Lougher on the Chapman Racing MV Augusta and local Ballymena man Barry Davidson who recently celebrated the milestone of his 100th Irish national road racing success riding Team Gimbert Honda 500.

Barry will also be riding a Team Gimbert Honda 350 in the MJF Builders Junior Classics and Ballymoney man Darryl Tweed on a Neil Vickers 350.

William Munnis Clerk of the Course and Club Chairman, said, “The grid at Armoy Road Races has bikes and competitors to cater for all ages and enthusiast of the sport. The sound will be something else particularly for the younger generation who may never have had the opportunity to hear and see such great racing bikes of the past. Both Friday and Saturday will see a great spectacle indeed. I’m looking forward to seeing the races begin and a safe two days of racing.”

This year, Bike Week runs from Sunday 23rd July until Saturday 29th July with the races taking place on Friday 28th July and Saturday 29th July 2023. The Armoy Road Races are part funded by the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and culminates in the Bayview Hotel Races of Legends.

For more information on Armoy Road Races, visit armoyroadraces.com or search for ‘AMRRC’ on Facebook or follow on twitter @ArmoyRoadRaces.

Please support the Armoy Road Races by buying a programme or a package. They are available from the Armoy office or on the website but need to be collected from the office in Armoy.

Ireland’s biggest art and sculpture event, featuring works by Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Patrick O’Reilly, and Keith Haring, is set to return to the Culloden Estate and Spa in Belfast this summer.

Art and Soul will be hosted by Gormleys at the five-star estate from August 19 – Sept 10, showcasing over £6 million worth of works by some of the biggest names in international and Irish art.

The free event will feature a major outdoor sculpture exhibition of 80 large sculptures and installations set throughout the 12 acres of landscaped grounds, which stretch down towards the shores of Belfast Lough.

With over 280 works on display, the fair will feature international artists alongside leading Irish sculptors Patrick O’Reilly, Ian Pollock, Bob Quinn, Sandra Bell, Eamonn Ceannt, John Fitzgerald, Anthony Scott and Orla De Brí.

The hotel’s interior will display 100 artworks by some of the world’s best-known artists, including Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Robert Indiana, Damien Hirst, Salvador Dali and Banksy.

Art and Soul will also include exhibitions by a host of artists from Northern Ireland including Stephen Johnston, Jane Rainey, Stephen Forbes and Ian Cumberland.

All of the artworks will be for sale, with prices ranging from £1,000 up to £400,000.

This will be the fourth time the major art and sculpture event has been hosted in the grounds of the five-star Culloden Estate with Gormleys.

Chairman of Hastings Hotels, Howard Hastings said: “We look forward to welcoming Art & Soul back to the Culloden Estate & Spa. We have worked closely with Gormleys in preparation for this spectacular event and once again we are thrilled to be exhibiting some of art’s most exciting pieces from world-renowned artists as well as a host of local talent.”

Oliver Gormley of Gormleys added: “Building on the success of previous events, we are delighted to return this fair, which has toured the country, to the Culloden where it first began. Art and Soul gives art lovers a unique opportunity to view these incredible works of art in the beautiful surroundings of the estate.”

To celebrate the event, the Culloden Estate & Spa has launched a selection of luxury packages including an Art and Soul ‘Sip and See’ from £360 per night for two giving guests the opportunity to enjoy overnight accommodation, breakfast, Bollinger champagne and canapés in Culloden’s summer champagne garden.

Attendees can also take advantage of the Culloden’s Fine Dining with Fine Art package, which pairs a luxurious tasting menu surrounded by original Warhol prints, a Champagne reception, an exclusive guided tour of the fair as well as a talk with Oliver Gormley on the unique works in the collection.

An afternoon tea among the artwork, Fancies with Fine Art, is also offered by the five star estate.

During the event, there will be a programme of artists’ talks and daily guided tours.

Art and Soul is Supported by Ards and North Down Borough Council and will be open to the public daily from 11am–7pm.

More information and accommodation offers can be found on www.cullodenestateandspa.com/art-and-soul