Culture of Belfast
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The culture of
History
For over two hundred years, Belfast has been a cultural and academic centre giving it the nickname the Athens of Ireland.[3] In fact in 1841, J. Stirling Coyne wrote about Belfast "so celebrated has this town become for its patronage and love of learning, that it has acquired the proud title of the modern Athens".[4]
In 2003, Belfast had an unsuccessful bid for the 2008 European Capital of Culture. The ambitious bid was run by an independent company called Imagine Belfast and boasted that it would "make Belfast the meeting place of Europe's legends where the meaning of history and belief find a home and a sanctuary from caricature, parody and oblivion."[5] Belfast's bid was based on three main themes: "Through the eyes of a Child", "Made in Belfast", and "To live without walls". These themes of unity and peace and creating a better city for our children became the core of the Imagine Belfast bid. Ultimately the bid may have been wrecked by the city's history and volatile politics.[6]
Imagine Belfast spent £1.2 million of public money and £100,000 of private funding in developing their bid.[7] However, Belfast City Council insist this money was not wasted. The legacy of the failed bid was a new Culture and Arts Plan 2003–2006 to take forward the spirit of the Imagine Belfast bid. The chief executive of Belfast City Council described the bid as "a catalytic event leading to a step change in the development of arts and culture in the city".[7] Indeed, the statistics show this to be true. In 2004–05, culture and arts events in Belfast were attended by 1.8 million people (400,000 more than the previous year). The same year, 80,000 people participated in culture and arts activities, twice as many as in 2003–04.[8]
As Belfast becomes more prosperous and its citizens have more disposable income, culture and the arts are becoming economically important to the city. Belfast City Council has promoted culture with the goals of encouraging creativity, bringing communities together to facilitate reconciliation, and creating new jobs. In 2004–05 culture and arts initiatives created the equivalent of 413 full-time jobs (37% more than the previous year).[8]
A combination of relative peace, international investment and an active promotion of arts and culture is attracting more tourists to Belfast than ever before. 5.9 million people visited Belfast in 2004–05 (up 10% from the previous year) and spent £262.5 million.[8]
Festivals
Performance arts and film
Belfast has one major theatre,
Sections of the city contain numerous
Another popular form of
Music
In recent years, the development of world class venues like the Waterfront Hall and the Odyssey has meant that Belfast now regularly attracts big name stars who previously would have played in Dublin or Glasgow.
Belfast has a longstanding history of underground clubs mainly orchestrated by DJ/promoter Christopher McCafferty. The city's rich industrial heritage provides the venues for the scene.[22][23]
In the classical arena, the Ulster Orchestra, Northern Ireland's only professional symphony orchestra, has been running since 1966. Belfast musicians,
Also the band Snow Patrol made their song "Take back the city tonight" which was inspired by the city of Belfast. They lived not far away in the town of Bangor.
The local Republican rap trio Kneecap have experienced both popularity and controversy while helping to popularise the Irish language among young people.
Literature
Belfast has been home to a number of significant, novelists, poets and playwrights.
See also
- Architecture of Belfast
- Culture of Northern Ireland
- Culture of Ireland
- Culture of the United Kingdom
- Notable Belfast people
- List of public art in Belfast
References
- ^ Imagine Belfast 2008 Official Website (Archived on 22 November 2002)
- ^ Rediscover NI – Arts and Culture Archived 13 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898
- ^ The Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland with Historical and Descriptive Text by J. Stirling Coyne, N. P. Willis, etc. Volume I Chapter 1. circa 1841
- ^ Web Review: The official websites on UK bids for European capital of culture 2008 The Guardian
- ^ Six cities shortlisted for culture capital bid The Guardian David Ward and Helen Carter Thursday 31 October 2002
- ^ a b Imagine Belfast Audit Report Archived 26 March 2005 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c Belfast City Council Cultural Strategy Archived 14 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ BBC – Féile: 20 Years On
- ^ Belfast Festival – About[permanent dead link]
- ^ "In Your Pocket – Lyric Theatre". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2007.
- ^ "In Your Pocket – OMAC". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2007.
- ^ a b Historic Buildings of Belfast Archived 18 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Ulster Hall Archived 21 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ BBC News Northern Ireland – Tax break fuels NI film business
- ^ "University of Ulster". Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2007.
- ^ BBC News
- ^ Anthony D. Buckley, 'The Chosen Few: Biblical Texts in the Regalia of an Ulster Secret Society', Folk Life, 24 (1985–86), pp.5–24.
- ^ All Music – Van Morrison
- ^ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -Van Morrison
- ^ E Notes – The Undertones Archived 15 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine – Biography
- ^ Ingles, Roisin (21 April 2001). "Death To Boring Saturday Nights". The Irish Times.
- ^ "The History of Belfast Underground Clubs 2".