Six local children’s clubs have been awarded £500 bursaries from the Little Wing Little Stars bursary scheme.

 

Returning for the third year, the bursary scheme is run by local pizzeria company Little Wing and is open to all kids clubs located near its six branches.  Since its launch, 12 clubs from across Northern Ireland have benefitted and this year’s winners are east Belfast’s Ojika NI Kids Kendo Club, Malone Rugby Club Minis, Bangor Swimming Club, Fighting Words Belfast, Carryduff Colts FC and Jets Cheerleading Team from Enniskillen.

Luke Wolsey, managing director of Little Wing Pizzeria, says the scheme is a way for the pizzeria to give something back to the local community: “The Little Wing Little Stars bursary scheme has been running for three years now and it’s been a pleasure to financially assist kids clubs in the local area.

“It is important that children stay active and have hobbies and the bursaries are always very welcome by the clubs.  This year, Fighting Words Belfast will be purchasing tables for the club’s after-schools sessions and Bangor Swimming Club plans to buy specialised equipment and treat the kids to team days out with the money.

“We’ll be running the scheme again in 2017 and I would encourage all local clubs to keep an eye out for the launch of this year’s scheme in September if they want to become involved.”

Little Wing is part of the Beannchor Group, Ireland’s largest hospitality group, which boasts a portfolio of over 50 pubs, hotels and restaurants across Northern Ireland.

For further information, visit littlewingpizzeria.com

Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre in Limavady has been chosen as the only arts centre in Northern Ireland to host this year’s international World Illustration Awards exhibition.

Opening on February 18^th, it features over 50 of the very best artworks submitted to the World Illustration Awards across eight categories, including advertising, children’s books, editorial and public art.

The pieces on display range from posters, book illustrations, animations and GIFs to sculptural pieces and textiles.

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Alderman Maura Hickey said: “We are delighted that an exhibition of such global significance is coming to Limavady. It represents artistic talent from the UK and Europe, as well as much further afield including South Korea, Australia, Israel, China and Japan. This is a fantastic opportunity to view such a wealth of talent in one of our local facilities.”

Desima Connolly, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Cultural Facilities Development Manager, said: “We are delighted to be the only arts venue in Northern Ireland to host this amazing touring exhibition for the second year running. Last year, many local schools and college groups visited the show and gave us wonderful appreciative feedback.

“We are so excited to be able to offer local communities the opportunity to see such internationally acclaimed, award-winning artwork once again. We have Education Packs to accompany the exhibition and there will also be a gallery family corner for adults and children to engage with the display.”

“Well worth a watch” – Independent.ie

“Honest and personal song-craft, paired with beautiful vocals… This Northern star is rising fast” – Hot Press magazine
Belfast singer-songwriter & video maker Owen Denvir is pleased to announce the launch of his new video EP “Motion Picture Soundtrack” on 12th February 2017 in Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast. Throughout the show he will be joined by a brass trio, a string trio and Hannah McPhillimy (who will also be performing a warmup slot).

Tickets are available here: www.wegottickets.com/owendenvir

Training as a young orchestral viola player, Owen Denvir was drawn by the alternative sound of Bon Iver over Bach. These two styles of music influence his songwriting, which Hot Press magazine have described as “honest, personal… complex and affecting”.

An avid video and mashup maker, Owen caught the attention of Coldplay with his “Best Of” mashup, performing a fusion of hits from their first 7 albums. His full series of split-screen multi-instrumental arrangements reached over 800,000 views in 2016, across Youtube and Facebook.

Owen’s Live Video EP “Motion Picture Soundtrack” offers an original alternative to releasing new music, keeping with his signature “split-screen” style and one-man multi-instrumentalism. Coverage has come as widespread as Irish television spots on UTV Life and TV3, with features from ITV News, Independent.ie & Belfast Telegraph, as well as major Irish radio stations Cool FM & BBC Radio Ulster.

 

Email: press@owendenvir.com
Website: www.owendenvir.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OwenDenvir
Twitter: www.twitter.com/OwenDenvir

The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor John Scott showed his support as Big Telly Theatre Company in partnership with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council opened their creative workshop in Castle Mall Shopping centre.

 

The workshop will be open until Saturday 25 February with lots happening from theatre, music and dance workshops to art installations, poetry slams and adventures. This workshop is loosely themed around games so look out for those favourite board games and don’t forget to tell us what your favourite games are either at home or in the playground! There may even be a game you used to play that isn’t popular anymore if so, let us know!

 

The Creative  workshop is leading up to a unique event ‘Operation Wolfhound’ which involves history, mystery and stories rooted in Antrim and is part of Antrim Live Festival, a two day extravaganza of arts & culture set for Antrim Town Friday 24 and Saturday 25 February. A full list of events can be found at www.antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/antrimlive

 

Big Telly Theatre Company invite everyone in the area to tell them something new about the town of Antrim or do you know a story about Antrim in the past? If so they would love to hear from you.  This project is very keen to support older people to allow them to share their skills to the wider community.  So if you are part of a group or an individual who would like to get involved please contact Big Telly on

E: bigtellyshop@gmail.com or 07928647683.

 

This Creative workshop is a professionally led arts programme which supports communities and traders to reanimate town centres.

 

Join us for a special Mid-Term treat as Theatre at The Mill’s Home Spun Youth Theatre present the Broadway classic musical Annie JR from Wednesday 15 – Sunday 19 February.

This much loved family favourite sees young Annie run away from the orphanage and the cruel arms of Miss Hannigan.

Annie stumbles upon exciting new adventures and life changes before her eyes when she softens the heart of business tycoon Will Stacks and goes to live with him in his luxurious mansion.

Featuring musical hits including It’s a Hard Knock Life, Your Never Fully Dressed without a Smile and Tomorrow, this will be the perfect treat for families this mid-term.

Tickets from £10, family tickets available from Box Office T: 028 9034 0202 or online www.theatreatthemill.com

Bring along your youngest scientists for W5’s Little Sparks toddler sessions. Visit our under 8s area, the town of Discovery, and take part in a 25-minute themed workshop as part of your visit.

Children are born natural scientists so why not bring them to W5 to let them imagine, explore, play and have fun? The town of Discovery is a place where children can learn about themselves and the world around them. Get hands-on with its interactive exhibits, play animal sounds in the farmyard, paddle in a virtual rock pool at the beach or flick through digital storybooks in the castle.

Little Sparks will be held one morning each month in W5. (Term time only) Your special Little Sparks ticket allows you entry into W5 from 10am – 12noon and sessions are aimed at children aged between 18 months and 4 years.

There will be two sessions held in the morning and each session will be themed and will include a 25-minute workshop at 10:30am or 11:15am with one of W5’s education team. Places are limited and must be pre-booked by calling 028 9046 7790 or 028 9046 7793.

Costs:

Children 4 and under: £1 each
Adults: £5.50*
Additional (non-participating) children over 4: £4.50

Details of up and coming sessions

8 February 2017

Workshop: Into the Deep, Dark Woods

Take a stroll through the deep, dark woods with our storyteller to spot some curious creatures and find out what is for tea! This children’s classic will come to life in your interactive storytelling session and inspire them to make their own ‘take home’ creation.

8 March 2017

Workshop: Teddy Bear Sense

Bring your toddler and teddy to our story telling session, Teddy Bear Sense, children will meet and hear about a bear who is not at all sensible. Both parents and children will have the opportunity to engage with the story by using their senses to touch, smell, hear, see and taste their way through their journey with Teddy Bear. Please encourage your toddler to bring their own teddy bear along to the event.

5 April 2017

Workshop: Wild Tracks

Are you wild about nature? Join us for a journey of imagination through the woods. Our Little Sparks will discover some wonderful woodland animals and find out what they might wear on their feet! Make and take home your own guide to track them down!

10 May 2017

Workshop: Caterpillar Capers

Can your body move like a caterpillar? Take a closer look at some real caterpillars and get creeping and crawling to some music. Find out how The Very Hungry Caterpillar eats his way through the week then make your very own caterpillar to take home.

 

Visit www.w5online.co.uk for full information.

To celebrate National Storytelling Week (28^th January – 4^th February), Titanic Belfast is looking for a Primary 1 or 2 class who love stories just as much as it does to be in with a chance to win a story time to remember.

 

National Storytelling Week is running this week and to mark the occasion, Titanic Belfast is giving away the opportunity for a class to be one of the first to hear and experience its newest workshop, ‘My Friend Bear’. The workshop is based on and inspired by a true Titanic tale about a young boy and his toy polar bear on board RMS Titanic.

Siobhan McCartney, Titanic Belfast’s Learning and Outreach Manager, “Stories play a fundamental role in our lives – communicating life experiences, encouraging creative imagination and inspiring us in many different ways. Everyone has a favourite story or character whether this is from folk tales, fairy lore or tales of derring-do. At Titanic Belfast, we are no different and to celebrate National Storytelling Week, we want to find the Primary School class who loves stories the most, so we can share one of our favourite Titanic tales with them on board SS Nomadic. We recognise the power of storytelling, it is at the heart of what we do every day as the World’s Leading Tourist Attraction, so this experience promises to be a story time that the class will always remember.”

The winning class will be one of the first in Northern Ireland to hear and experience  the truly Titanic tale, about a boy travelling on-board RMS Titanic with his beloved polar bear toy, brought to life through Titanic Belfast’s new ‘My Friend Bear’ workshop.

The new workshop for KS1 is part of Titanic Belfast’s learning programme, which is recognised as a leading learning resource and has welcomed over 100,000 participants since its opening in 2012. The wide range of learning programmes, which cover a variety of subjects and skills, ranging from maritime communication, marine science & exploration to 5 star customer service, is supported by the Survitec Group, a leading manufacturer of marine, defense and aerospace survival technology, since 2014.

To win the special ‘My Friend Bear’ workshop for a primary school class, the class or pupil (aged 4 – 6) must send Titanic Belfast an image that shows why and how much they enjoy story time. This could be a photograph of a class in their story corner or the library or a word bank expressing how much they love stories. The prize also includes £250 towards transport for the class.

To enter, please download the form from www.titanicbelfast.com and return it by email to competitions@titanicbelfast.com or by post to Titanic Tale Competition, Titanic Belfast, 1 Olympic Way, Queen’s Road, Belfast, BT39EP before 22^nd February.

Over five days at the beginning of March, more than one hundred local and international artists will perform in thirty concerts at 13^th United Airlines Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival in the Clayton Hotel Belfast.

Panarts have just launched their exciting music programme with special guest speaker, Roisin McDonough, CEO of the Arts Council NI.

Making a welcome return to BelNash is one of Ireland’s finest writers, Paul Brady who will be joined on stage by Declan O’Rourke and Nashville’s Grammy nominated Darrell Scott. A second unique show, ‘Paul Brady in Conversation’ is being recorded by BBC Radio Ulster’s Ralph McLean while Downtown Radio’s popular presenter Big T, Trevor Campbell will host Texas songbird Kimmie Rhodes at a special opening night concert on Wednesday 1^st March. Award winning artist Paul Brady, Patron of Panarts said;

“Often overshadowed by the spotlight on the performer and singer, the annual Belfast-Nashville Festival provides an opportunity to bring song writing talent to the fore and to encourage talented new writers to join the ranks”

Local artists gracing the stage include Kaz Hawkins, Peter McVeigh, Ursula Burns and young rising star Ryan McMullan, fresh from working with Ed Sheeran and Foy Vance. Panarts Director Colin Magee said;

“When we started out twelve years ago to put songwriters centre stage and to showcase creative and musically gifted local artists, we could only dream of having such a fantastic festival line-up”

In a special ‘In the Round Concert’ Kimmie Rhodes shares a stage with Belfast’s Gareth Dunlop and Brian Houston. Nashville’s Mac McAnally will play the hit songs he wrote for Kenny Chesney, Alabama and Shenandoah, supported by the Forestside and Panarts Under Nineteen Writers. Triona Carville will launch her new single ‘Warrior’ on 3^rd March, following on from her recent success in becoming Panarts Young Songwriter of the Year. The finalists from this annual award will also perform on stage with eight talented students from Belmont University Nashville.

Running alongside the concerts is the popular music industry conference, Panarts Song Writing Convention, now in its thirteenth year. Artists will share their song writing skills while PRS for Music and IMRO will answer questions about royalties, copyright and income streams for artists.

 

Tickets are on sale at www.belfastnashville.com Telephone 028 9024 6609 or box office, Visit Belfast Welcome Centre, Donegall Sq North. The annual BelNash Festival & Conference is funded by Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts & Business NI, Downtown Radio, United Airlines, Clayton Hotel Belfast, Forestside, Avalon Guitars, Dawsons Music and PRS for Music Foundation.

Prepare yourselves for a superb evening of acoustic guitar sounds at Flowerfield Arts Centre in Portstewart.

Internationally acclaimed guitarist and ground breaking innovator Preston Reed will grace the stage as part of his Irish tour on Thursday 16th February at 8pm.

After a whirlwind year, with performances in China, USA, Canada and Europe, Preston will entertain the crowds here with his timeless, imagery evoking compositions. His music can range from classical to jazz and rock creating a visual experience for everyone in attendance.

Recognised internationally as one of the greatest guitarists in the world, Preston’s music has been described as “spectacular- a terrific performer” according to The Irish Independent, while Total Guitar defined him as “the world’s most gifted guitarist.”

He has revolutionised the way the acoustic guitar is played and inspired generations of musicians from all over the world.

Tickets for the event cost £13 and are available from Flowerfield Arts Centre Box Office on 028 7083 1400 or online at www.flowerfield.org and Eventbrite. 

Northern Ireland’s only remaining Victorian era prison, Crumlin Road Gaol has been graded and awarded a five-star visitor attraction rating, indicating that the attraction is operating to an ‘outstanding’ level.

The five-star accreditation was awarded under the Tourism NI Quality Grading Scheme which is designed to provide visitors with information on the quality of the experience they can expect at Northern Ireland’s tourist attractions, whilst assisting operators to maintain and continue to improve the quality of their offering.

To achieve a star rating, Crumlin Road Gaol was subject to an unannounced mystery assessment from a Quality Advisor who underwent the customer journey. The assessor concluded his experience with very positive feedback stating that “It is an excellent, thought provoking and stimulating attraction that educates and informs visitors about this historic building that played such a role in the history of Belfast.”

Commenting on Crumlin Road Gaol’s five star grading John McGrillen, Tourism NI Chief Executive commented; “Crumlin Road Gaol is an outstanding attraction and the visitor offering and experience is unique in Northern Ireland. The tours are educating, thought provoking and well balanced and the introduction of a fully licensed restaurant helped Crumlin Road Gaol achieve five-star status.

Joining an elite club of only five other five star graded attractions, this accolade provides an additional marketing tool to help drive visitor numbers to the Gaol and to Northern Ireland.”

Since opening in 2012 the popular Belfast visitor attraction has welcomed over 600,000 International and national visitors.

Director of Crumlin Road Gaol Phelim Devlin said “We are overjoyed to have received the five-star rating for Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Attraction and Conference Centre.

We are one of five visitor attractions to receive this prestigious award which shows us that we are up there with the best visitor attraction in Northern Ireland.

This year we have worked hard to improve the visitors experience and with the addition of a new restaurant, Cuffs Bar & Grill, we can now offer visitors the full package.

We have a great team of staff and tour guides at Crumlin Road Gaol which particularly enhance the visitors experience, we are delighted their efforts have been recognised and rewarded with this this ‘outstanding’ grading.”

Director of Strategic Planning Division at Department for Infrastructure, Carol Ramsey, added: “I am delighted that Belfast Tours has received this accolade for Crumlin Road Gaol and Conference Centre. The Five-Star award is an instantly recognisable symbol of excellence and quality. Today’s success has been the result of the vision, hard work and determination of Belfast Tours and their team and I wish them continued success for the future”