In April we participated in a week-long international arts and cultural programme hosted by British Council Northern Ireland called Peace and Beyond 2023: The Role of Arts in Divided and Polarised Societies to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
The Peace and Beyond 2023 programme brought together delegates from 10 countries (including from Colombia, Viet Nam, Lebanon, Iraq and Ukraine) to discover how artists and creative organisations have played a key role in Northern Ireland’s post-conflict journey and to connect with arts professionals from other countries and contexts to share their experience.
Our lead guide Paul Donnelly, along with Adam Turkington from Seedhead Arts, took the delegation on a bespoke coach and walking tour of Belfast to explore the changing nature of the city’s walls – from political murals to contemporary street art.
You can see some of the tour in the clip below, which also shares some of the delegates’ observations on Belfast’s wall art:
The focus of the week was to engage with and learn about those working in Northern Ireland’s creative and cultural sectors and take part in talks, workshops, exhibition openings and tours about socially engaged arts practice, and international collaboration. The feedback from the delegates was really positive and we were delighted to be involved and help them understand the complex history of Belfast’s murals:
British Council Northern Ireland aims to bring the best of international education and arts to Northern Ireland and helps students, teachers, artists and others connect professionally with people around the world. Peace and Beyond 2023 followed on from British Council’s Peace and Beyond Conference, which was held in 2018 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
If you would like to work with us to create a bespoke tour in Belfast for your conference or event, just get in touch to discuss it with us.
