Category: featured-2

Today, Wednesday 24th April, globally renowned Belfast-born artist, Colin Davidson, announced the opening of his powerful display of portraiture, ‘Silent Testimony’, at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

‘Silent Testimony’ has previously captivated audiences at prestigious venues including the Ulster Museum (Belfast), Stormont’s Parliament Buildings, the Irish Arts Center in New York, and the United Nations HQ in New York. Now, visitors to the National Portrait Gallery will have the opportunity to experience this moving collection for the first time in London.

Davidson, reflecting on the display, said: “It is a true privilege to see ‘Silent Testimony’ installed at the National Portrait Gallery, on one of its most important outings. This exhibition is not only my personal response to the lived legacy of the Troubles but a comment on the fallout of all conflict.

“‘Silent Testimony’ is not just about Northern Ireland but about conflict more generally and the people who are left behind in the wake of war. In making this exhibition, I wanted to explore the legacy of our past and how it still impacts people today, not by seeking out answers but rather by posing questions.

“Bringing this collection to the National Portrait Gallery offers people a chance to engage with the human stories behind the conflict, reflecting on its impact and the resilience of those who have endured it.”

Featuring 18 poignant portraits of people who suffered loss through the Troubles, ‘Silent Testimony’ is set to run from Monday 22nd April 2024 to Sunday 23rd February 2025.

Each of Colin Davidson’s large-scale portraits, created between 2014 and 2015, serve as a silent testimony to the individual experiences of loss during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. From the trauma of loss and injury, these portraits offer a deeply personal insight into the human cost of conflict and its ongoing reverberations.

Celebrated for his large-scale portrait paintings, Colin’s diverse subjects have included Her Majesty The Late Queen Elizabeth II, President Bill Clinton, Brad Pitt and Ed Sheeran.

Colin’s gratitude extends to his 18 sitters and their families for entrusting him with their stories, as well as to WAVE Trauma and National Museums NI for their valuable support.

A few of the portraits from ‘Silent Testimony’ can be seen below with information on each sitter:

Paul Reilly: Paul Reilly’s daughter, Joanne (20), was killed on 12th April 1989 in Warrenpoint. Joanne had been working in a builder’s yard when a no-warning bomb exploded beside her office. She was killed instantly. The sitting for this portrait took place in Joanne’s bedroom, kept exactly as she had left it that day. The clock on the wall is stopped at 9.58am, the time of her death.

Johnnie Proctor: Johnnie Proctor’s father, John (25), was killed on 14th September 1981. Johnnie was born the day before, and his father was visiting the Mid Ulster Hospital in Magherafelt to see his wife and new-born son when he was shot dead in the hospital car park. Johnnie was named after his father.

Virtue Dixon: Virtue Dixon’s daughter, Ruth (24), died in a bomb attack in Ballykelly on 6th December 1982. Ruth was celebrating her birthday in the Droppin Well public house when there was an explosion, causing the roof to collapse. Sixteen other people lost their lives in the attack. A witness tells of hearing the DJ play ‘Happy Birthday’ for Ruth at the moment the bomb exploded. Ruth’s son, who was six at the time of her death, died suddenly when he was aged thirty.

One of Belfast’s most iconic landmarks is framing up to celebrate a major milestone.

This summer, Belfast Castle will mark 90 years since it was gifted to the citizens of the city. The 90th anniversary will be celebrated with an array of public events and activities, as well as the reopening of the Castle’s Cellar Restaurant.

Perched on the slopes of Cave Hill Country Park, the imposing outline of the Castle’s towers and turrets has become synonymous Belfast. The anniversary will offer locals and visitors the opportunity to delve into the iconic estate’s history and heritage. The new look Cellar Restaurant will invite visitors to step back in time and experience Victorian-style shop fronts and gas lights, common features when work on Belfast Castle was first completed.

Over the decades, the venue has played host to many receptions, dances and high teas. Delving into this legacy, the celebrations will include a Céilí at the Castle and a Big 90^th Lunch, allowing picnickers to enjoy the famous city views from the landscaped gardens.

Built in the 1860s, Belfast Castle was constructed by the third Marquis of Donegall, a descendent of the Baron of Belfast. It replaced the original Belfast Castle, located in the city centre and destroyed by fire. Today, street names like Castle Place, serve as the only reminder of the Castle’s original location. The new Castle was completed by the Marquis of Donegall in 1870, with construction costing much more than its original budget. The Earl of Shaftesbury funded the Marquis £11,000 to complete the building and, eventually, inherited the estate. Lord Shaftesbury held the role of Lord Mayor in 1907. On 26th July 1934, he donated the Castle and its surrounding estate to the city of Belfast.

Ahead of the special anniversary celebrations, Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Ryan Murphy, welcomed the programme of the event and activities stating: “From its commanding position on Cave Hill, Belfast Castle is a talisman for our city. We are pleased to mark this special anniversary with a range of public events and activities that offer a snapshot into its wealth of archaeological, historical and natural features. From a Dawn Chorus Dander on Cave Hill to a Tea Dance in the Ballroom, there will be opportunities for everyone to join the celebrations, further building on Belfast’s affinity with its Castle for generations to come.”

To find out more about the programme of celebrations, including yoga, open-air painting, vintage car displays and visiting supercars, visit: www.belfastcastle.co.uk.

One of the island’s most beloved and long-running festivals is back for 11 days of live music, comedy, film, literature, visual art and more! This year’s Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival takes place from Thursday 2nd May to Sunday 12th May, and features over 100 acts – big, small and everything in between – in dozens of venues across Belfast’s historic cultural quarter and beyond.

The festival marquee at Custom House Square will feature headlining performances from Nadine Shah, Hollie McNish, Ibibio Sound Machine, stone-cold soul legend P.P. Arnold (plus guest Bronagh Gallagher), teenage blues sensation Muireann Bradley, the definitive Neil Young tribute act Harvest, the main magical genius of  a comedian Jerry Sadowitz, Baxter Dury, Ireland’s most popular author Marian Keyes, The Dodge Brothers (featuring one Mark Kermode on double bass), Mick Flannery and festival-favourite Janey Godley returns to Belfast after beating cancer, armed with a new documentary film (featuring CQAF) and a lacerating stand-up comedy set.

Elsewhere, in one of the strongest music programmes this year, the line-up includes Robert Finley, Snapped Ankles, Conchúr White, TVAM, Jimmie Rhodes, Liu (unplugged), C Duncan, Oisin Leech, Tom Robinson, Lemoncello, Zoe Conway and John McIntyre, Kathering Priddy, Jane Weaver, The Handsome Family and DJ sets from Mr Scruff, Lack of Afro, Justin Robertson and DJ Format.

The festival is thrilled to present the remarkable Joel Harkin as this year’s Artist in Residence. Joel is a singer of songs and a spinner of yarns from County Donegal. His 2020 album Never Happy was shortlisted for the NI Music Prize and is one of the standout Irish releases in recent years.

There’s books and talks aplenty from multiple-award-winning Irish author Sinéad Gleeson, Sara Pascoe will be talking about her new novel Weirdo and Annie McManus will hold a conversation about a life of music, books and broadcasting. CQAF is thrilled to welcome the very legendary Phil Manzanera (of Roxy Music amongst many others) with his acclaimed new memoir Revólución to Roxy. The auteur’s Auteur Luke Haines is back with a new tome – the thrillingly titled Freaks Out! Weirdos, Misfits, Deviants – The Rise and Fall of Righteous Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Daniel Rachel will be in conversation about his new book on the 2 Tone Records Story – Too Much Too Young.

The CQAF film programme includes a special 50^th anniversary screening of everyone’s favourite horror comedy – Young Frankenstein will take place in the gothic surrounds of St Patrick’s Church. The Northern Irish premiere of Birdsong – the incredible account of ornithologist Sean Ronayne’s attempt to record the song of every single bird in Ireland – that’s Ronayne’s attempt to record the song of every single bird in Ireland – almost 200 birds! CQAF will also be presenting the Irish premiere of Big Banana Feet – the great Billy Connolly documentary about his Irish tour in 1975 (which culminated in a performance in the old ABC cinema in Belfast) – long-thought lost but now lovingly restored in 4k.

The enigmatic genius that is Daniel Kitson will be making a live rare foray, performing a brand-new show Collaborator: A Work in Progress, where the audience are part of the script.

And there’s theatre from Big Telly with ‘The Worst Café in the World’ and Tinderbox Theatre Co’s production of ‘I’ve Always Liked the Name Marcus’. Jack Doherty will bring his intimate Edinburgh smash ‘David Bowie and Me’. Hildegard Ryan and Eva O’Connor – the people that brought the award-winning ‘Mustard’ to life at CQAF last year – return with the equally visceral ‘Chicken’, and ‘acclaimed clown’ and emerging idiot Frankie Thompson will be welcomed with CAttS – one of the Guardian’s top five shows of last year. Will Govan will also be performing his celebrated essay on the life of Oscar Wilde, titled ‘Work is the Curse of the Drinking Classes’.

The CQAF visual arts programme includes “mother tongue” at The Mac, which is a who’s who of great local artists, new work from Éabha Campbell at Catalyst Arts, featuring a synthesis of traditional oil painting and sound and video installation, the two-site exhibition ‘Smoke’ from international artists and guerrilla practitioners Shiro Masayamas and Leopold Kessler, and ‘Bua an Chultúir/Victory of Culture’, an exhibition of sculpture from Farhad O’Neill.

Hit the North Street Art Festival returns to enliven the spaces and places between festival venues and, wile you’re on your feet, why not join one of our many walking tours – from Black Belfast to the Clifton St Cemetery Tour.

Festival director, Sean Kelly, said: “We always try and make increasingly little go a long way, and this year I hope we’ve achieved that in spades. I think there’s an abundance and diversity of local and international talent. I hate the old cliché ‘something for everyone’, but sometimes it just happens to be true! Come and join us in May and find out for yourself!”

The Royal Television Society Northern Ireland (RTS NI) Student Television Award winners were announced last night (28^th March 2024) in the Black Box, Belfast at an awards ceremony hosted by UTV journalist Nathan Hanna with the Joe McKinney Memorial Keynote Speech delivered by Fiona Campbell, Controller, Youth Audience, BBC iPlayer and BBC Three.

In partnership with Northern Ireland Screen, these awards encourage, nurture and reward the talent, potential and enthusiasm of students in colleges and universities across Northern Ireland creating film and video content.

The Animation Award went to Ulster University Belfast student Patrick Faulkner for Unseen-Alone in Space, a great animation and intriguing story which the judges described as beautiful throughout and well executed.

The Entertainment and Comedy Award went to Mantis Shrimp, a production by Queen’s University Belfast students Stella Skiadopoulou, Jiale Rui, Amy Lonergan, Harry Thompson and Dai Qingyongcuo, which the judges found funny, whimsical and well-acted with creative visuals and a great actress who gave a star performance.

Queen’s University Belfast was also the winner in the Drama category for Spring is Sure to Follow, by Andrew McAllister, Lucy Johnston, Lucy Maxwell, Jon-Marc Maguire, William Penney and Dominic Small. The judges liked the gentle pensiveness of this film which had a beautiful story of acceptance with great casting and performances. Ulster University Belfast students Luke O’Grady and Marty Carlin were highly commended for their drama When it Rains.

On The Edge by Nathan Edgar from Ulster University Coleraine won the Factual Short Form Award for his very accomplished documentary which the judges felt was an incredibly talented solo effort with great drone work and access. Being Punk by Haoyue Hu, Shanshan Qiu and Jean Watt from Queen’s University Belfast was also highly commended in this category.

The Craft Award for excellence in camera work was awarded to Karl Castles from Queen’s University Belfast for his work on the drama Saoirse, which the judges thought was mesmerizing and stunningly shot with great locations.

The Craft Award for Production went to Queen’s University students Harry Thompson, Olivia Peden, Luke Darby, Owen Hogg and Emma Harrisson for their short documentary Above Par.

Sarah McCaffrey, Chair of RTS NI, said: “Congratulations to all our winners this year, it is wonderful to have this opportunity to celebrate and highlight the amazing work emerging from Northern Ireland’s third level institutions. I know the judges had a tough task selecting this year’s winners given the high quality of all this year’s entries. I look forward to seeing the impact all these students will have on our screen industries in the coming years and wish those winders going forward to the national awards in June every success.”

Bernard McCloskey, Head of Exhibition at Northern Ireland Screen, said: “Northern Ireland Screen is delighted to be able to support these student awards in partnership with RTS NI which are a great way to nurture and encourage the emerging creative talent we here in Northern Ireland.”

Aidan Browne, Chair of the RTS NI Students Awards, said: “The RTS NI plays a huge role in supporting the next generation of content creators and winning one of these awards provides local students with a prestigious accolade to help them with their future careers.”

Keynote speaker Fiona Campbell, Controller Youth Audience, BBC iPlayer and BBC Three, said: “It is always a real privilege to meet with the next generation of content makers, as I get to experience first-hand their enthusiasm for this industry, which I still love as much today as when I first started out here in Belfast, many years ago. I have seen huge changes driven by technology during this time, but I believe it is our natural ability for storytelling that ensures, Northern Ireland always punches way above its’ weight on the global stage.”

The winners of these Awards go forward to the national RTS Student Media Awards in June and will also be invited to this year’s RTS NI Programme Awards in November, where their work will be showcased in front of top professionals from across the screen industries.

Arts Night at the Museum will take place at North Down Museum, Bangor on Friday 22^nd March, from 6pm to 8pm. The museum will thrown open its doors to artists and art lovers, giving everyone the opportunity to have a go at art!

The unique event will give visitors the chance to experience a whole range of art activities – expect everything from screen printing to clay work, sketching to jewellery-making, digital art and more.

Whether you want to explore the museum and its galleries, watch the artists at work or have a go yourself, this free event is an excellent opportunity for people of all ages to get their creativity flowing.

Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Arts Officer, Patricia Hamilton, said: “We love arts night! This event gives everyone the opportunity to have a go at art in a relaxed atmosphere, in a beautiful building.”

Coffee Cure, the museum’s café, will be open, serving light meals, snacks and beverages. There will also be live music performances throughout the evening.