Monday 23 August 2010

Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen's

My second appointment today was the launch for the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen's. 

This was held at Queen's Film Theatre and Arlene Foster MLA, the Tourism Minister, and Belfast Lord Mayor Pat Convery, were also there.

The festival runs in October and you can access the programme at http://www.belfastfestival.com/ .

The Arts Council is supporting the festival this year with a grant of £250,000 and DCAL also provided £75,000 as the last year of a three year package of support to take the festival towards sustainability.  The Northern Ireland tourist Board also supported the marketing of the festival and there is also a good partnership between the festival and the Ulster Bank.  In these days of financial restraint, private sector sponsorship is especially important.

Last year I raised on this blog the issue of the poltiical balance of the talks at the festival and I am glad to see that this year they have added a panel of speakers on the legacy of Sir Edward Carson - Professor Graham Walker, Professor Paul Bew and Dr Eamonn Phoenix.

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