Creative Boom Northern Ireland

Belfast's Mayor ready to Swing into Spring for Headway Belfast

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

15th Feb 2012 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ A Belfast-based charity dedicated to the support of survivors of brain injury and their families is gearing up for the night of the season as it hosts its first charity gala ball at City Hall. The `Sw...

Jedi knight set to create a storm as City Hall troops out red carpet for Youth Oscars

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:00:00 +0000

24th Jan 2012 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Oscar fever is building in the run-up to Hollywoods biggest night of the year but its a red carpet event of a different kind that will be grabbing the limelight in Belfast come March. Belfast City C...

Support for new food and craft businesses

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:00:00 +0000

20th Dec 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Belfast City Council has launched a new initiative designed to help small businesses literally bring their products to the marketplace. The new Market Start Up programme is designed to provide suppo...

Cameras ready for action

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:00:00 +0000

20th Dec 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Amateur photographers are advised to get ready for action as Belfast City Council launches the 2012 Belfast Parks Photographic Competition. A share of £1,000 is on offer for the best in three categor...

'Merlin' to 'takeover' Belfast film weekend

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:00:00 +0000

14th Nov 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Colin Morgan, the star of BBC One's 'Merlin' is to cast his special brand of magic over Belfast, when he opens the Belfast City Council backed Takeover Film Weekend at the Queen's Film Theatre...

Volume Control presents… A Belfast Music Week With MTV

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0000

19th Oct 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ A Plastic Rose, Rainy Boy Sleep, Silhouette, Axis Of, Colly Strings - they'll all be part of an event during Belfast Music Week with MTV, taking place on Monday, October 31 at The Ulster Hall in Belfa...

Editorial training comes to Belfast

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0000

12th Oct 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ The Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP) is bringing two of its most popular one-day training courses to Belfast in November. The Crescent Arts Centre will be the venue for Introduction to web ...

Belfast gears up for monster-mashing Hallowe`en spooktacular

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:00:00 +0000

10th Oct 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ All kinds of scary spirits, wicked witches and ghostly ghouls will be making themselves known in Belfast soon as Hallowe`en gets underway and promises to be as fang-tastic as ever...

Excitement builds in City as Belfast Music Week 2011 approaches

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:00:00 +0000

3rd Oct 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ With the spotlight firmly fixed on Belfast as it prepares to host the MTV EMAs, the worlds biggest artist, multi-million selling popstar, Rihanna has been causing a stir all on her own this week...

Titanic Artwork Showcased

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 08:00:00 +0000

30th Sep 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ A ‘Titanic’ art piece, created by children from across Belfast, has been unveiled. The 8ft tall structure – created by more than 500 schoolchildren from all parts of the city – was seen for th...

First Belfast Music Week concert announced

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:00:00 +0000

22nd Sep 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Belfast City Council has confirmed details of the first high-profile concert to be arranged as part of our second Belfast Music Week, which takes place from 30 October – 5 November...

Hopes for future ‘RISE’ on Belfast horizon

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 07:00:00 +0000

19th Sep 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ A time capsule is being buried to mark the end of work on the biggest public artwork ever commissioned in Northern Ireland. The capsule – containing messages from school children from the greater Vi...

Gala celebration of Belfast literature

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 07:00:00 +0000

13th Sep 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ The biggest ever gathering of Belfasts writers has been held in the city centre, to mark the official launch of a series of new initiatives to highlight the citys rich literary heritage and vibrant co...

Shauna McGowan

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:00:00 +0000

31st Aug 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Shauna McGowan is a multi-disciplined artist based in N.Ireland. Areas of interest include screen-printing, illustration and poetry. A magpie in a past life, she is drawn to metallic surfaces and shin...

Gala celebration of Belfast literature

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:00:00 +0000

26th Aug 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ The biggest ever gathering of Belfasts writers will mark the official launch of a series of new initiatives to highlight the citys rich literary heritage and vibrant contemporary scene.

On Tuesd...

Council support for Belfast's creative industries

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:00:00 +0000

26th Aug 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ The creative industry in Belfast is to benefit from the council's latest targeted business development initiatives. The 'Creative Entrepreneurs Club' (CEC) which is funded by the council will bring to...

Council support for Belfast`s creative industries

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:00:00 +0000

18th Aug 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ The creative industry in Belfast is to benefit from the councils latest targeted business development initiatives. The ‘Creative Entrepreneurs Club (CEC) which is funded by the council will bring ...

Top Cultural Acts to spice up Belfast

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 09:00:00 +0000

12th Aug 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Shimmering saris, fabulous food, and inspiring music and dance are just a few of the sights and sounds to expect from the fifth annual Belfast Mela – Northern Ireland’s largest multi-cultural fest...

David Henderson

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0000

27th Jul 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ After gaining a First Class with Honors in Interactive Multimedia Design and winning the Interactive Design Prize with University of Ulster in May 2008, David continued with his passion for multimedia...

Belfast reveals its exciting new look ‘city dressing`.

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 08:00:00 +0000

26th Jul 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ The first of 400 patterned banners were unfurled at East Bridge Street and will now be rolled out at 262 sites across the city. Featuring 12 themed patterns, the eye-catching banners aim to provide a ...

City venues receive disability charter

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 09:00:00 +0000

21st Jul 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Belfast Waterfront and The Ulster Hall have become the first venues in Belfast to be awarded Arts and Disability Equality Charter status at the inaugural Arts and Disability Equality Awards. The Arts ...

Mark Reihill

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0000

19th Jul 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Digital illustrator Mark Reihill began his career with a Belfast-based advertising company. Seeking to utilise his abilities in a more fulfilling way he left to pursue a career as a freelance artist. ...

Fairytale opera comes to Belfast

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:00:00 +0000

11th Jul 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ One of the world's most magical fairytales is set to enchant Belfast city centre. On Wednesday 13 July, the Royal Opera House will broadcast its production of Cinderella – or Cendrillon – via the ...

Piping hot event for Belfast

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:00:00 +0000

7th Jul 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Belfast will come alive to the swirl of pipes for the second year in a row as it hosts more than 100 bands competing at the European Pipe Band Championships at Stormont later this month.

The hotly...

Festival organisers share best practice

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:00:00 +0000

7th Jul 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Festival organisers in Belfast and Londonderry have been comparing notes and sharing best practice ahead of their tenture as UK City of Culture. Members of the Belfast City Council-backed Festivals Fo...

Wanted - 'Giant' talent for NI's largest arts event

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:00:00 +0000

6th Jul 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Giant Events Company, organiser of Land of Giants, the largest arts event ever seen in Northern Ireland, is on the look out for more than 500 creative cast and crew. An epic, ambitious event, Land o...

It's never too young to be enterprising

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:00:00 +0000

6th Jul 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ A number of schoolchildren from Belfast are on their way to becoming budding business leaders after taking part in an enterprise initiative, supported by Belfast City Council. The primary school pupil...

Five minutes with Richard Morss

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 09:00:00 +0000

6th Jul 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Richard Morss is Joint MD of Straandlooper Animation based in Northern Ireland. Richard has worked in TV and animation for over 30 years and is enjoying a surprise success with the self produced hit i...

One Moore Time for Belfast City Blues

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:00:00 +0000

5th Jul 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Niall Ó Donnghaile, has launched the third annual Belfast City Blues Festival. Taking place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, the 2011 festival is dedicated to the memo...

Literary Belfast in the spotlight

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:00:00 +0000

8th Jun 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Belfast City Council is launching a series of new initiatives to celebrate our rich literary heritage, vibrant contemporary scene and to establish a strong reputation as a capital city with unique and...

Sculpture RISEs on Belfast skyline

Thu, 26 May 2011 07:00:00 +0000

26th May 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Work is progressing well on the biggest public artwork ever commissioned in Northern Ireland. Once completed, RISE will tower 37.5 metres – or 123 feet – above the city`s Broadway roundabout...

Curtain is raised on major Polish festival

Wed, 04 May 2011 09:00:00 +0000

4th May 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ A major, day-long, festival celebrating the sights, sounds and tastes of Poland looks set to bring Belfast’s Saint Anne’s Square to a standstill this Saturday [7 May] from 12noon-5pm.

‘A Tast...

Belfast issues strictly creative challenge

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:00:00 +0000

27th Apr 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ From musicians to magicians . . . from circus acts to singers . . . from street theatre to street dancing . . . from artists to artisans . . . and just about everything in between . . . performers and...

Matthew Knights

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:00:00 +0000

27th Apr 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Matthew Knights loves to paint his characters and designs filling them with crazy amounts of detail and patterns. He grew up in Pakistan where he experienced one hell of a crazy and wonderful upbringi...

Derry set for digital awards finals

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 08:00:00 +0000

19th Apr 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Forget the Oscars, BAFTAs and MOBOs... Derry is currently on the verge of scooping a series of digital awards in the prestigious Northern Ireland Social Media Awards. The power of social media tools,...

Sculpture RISEs on Belfast skyline

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0000

4th Apr 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Work has started on the biggest public artwork ever commissioned in Northern Ireland. When completed, RISE will tower 37.5 metres – or 123 feet – above the city`s Broadway roundabout.

Construc...

11th Belfast Film Festival plays host to the global premier of The Shore

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 07:00:00 +0000

1st Apr 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ The 11th Belfast Film Festival, which opened last night, Thursday, 31st March, plays host Friday (1st April) to the global premiere of the latest Terry George move, The Shore. Showing at QFT at 7pm, t...

Artist takes his talent to ‘market’

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 08:00:00 +0000

31st Mar 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ A south Belfast artist is literally taking his talent to market. Over recent weeks, Brian Ballard has become a regular fixture at St George’s Market, where he has been painting portraits of some of ...

Access Award for Historic Crescent Arts Centre

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:00:00 +0000

29th Mar 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ The Crescent Arts Centre was recently awarded a William Keown Trust Access Award. This prestigious award recognises the team's contribution to providing an accessible, user-friendly environment in one...

Arts Council calls for Arts to remain high on political agenda

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:00:00 +0000

29th Mar 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ The Arts Council of Northern Ireland welcomed deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness MP, MLA recently to its offices in Belfast. During his visit, the Minister took the opportunity to meet with staff ...

Portrait unveiled of former Lord Mayor

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:00:00 +0000

28th Mar 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ The official portrait of former Lord Mayor – now East Belfast MP - Naomi Long has been unveiled at Belfast City Hall. Each year, a portrait of the previous Lord Mayor is commissioned and placed on d...

Belfast City Council backs student design competition

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:00:00 +0000

28th Mar 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Belfast City Council is backing a unique design competition, which could set one local fashion student on the path to international success. House of Fraser`s flagship Belfast store has teamed up with...

BBC double act to host the Belfast Business Awards 2011

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0000

28th Mar 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ BBC`s Sarah Travers and Mark Simpson will host the Belfast Business Awards in the City Hall next month. The prestigious Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony will take place on Thursday 14 April with 21 awa...

Attwood announces £300,000 funding boost for Laganside Arts Events

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:00:00 +0000

16th Mar 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Social Development Minister Alex Attwood has launched a £300,000 funding package aimed at encouraging arts, cultural and community based events in Belfast’s Laganside area.

This funding covers a...

Award winning director Terry George launches 11th Belfast Film Festival

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:00:00 +0000

10th Mar 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ The 11th Belfast Film Festival was launched today by Belfast-born internationally acclaimed director and screen writer, Terry George. 130 films from 25 countries will be screened over the 16 days - co...

Lemar headlines St Patrick`s Day concert

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:00:00 +0000

9th Mar 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ The Environment is the theme for this years St Patricks Day carnival procession – organised, for the sixth successive year, by Belfast City Council. Once again, the carnival will be followed by ...

MTV sets its sights on Belfast for the 2011 EMAs

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:00:00 +0000

9th Mar 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ MTV has announced that Belfast will play host to the 2011 European Music Awards. The awards will be broadcast live from Belfast`s Odyssey Arena in November this year and will be packed with unpreceden...

New programme gets to the 'art' of the community

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:00:00 +0000

28th Feb 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is encouraging older people to take part in the arts with a range of new projects happening across the country.

The three year £700,000 programme, which is joi...

Creative industries present huge potential for economic growth

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 07:00:00 +0000

28th Feb 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Culture and Arts Minister Nelson McCausland believes that the Northern Ireland Creative Industries sector is helping to rebuild and rebalance the local economy.

He was speaking as he announced tha...

Minister welcomes arts survey findings

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 18:00:00 +0000

26th Feb 2011 ⁄ Northern Ireland ⁄ Arts and Culture Minister Nelson McCausland has welcomed results from a survey into people’s experience of the arts in Northern Ireland.

The Minister was commenting on findings contained within ...