Mairtin O Muilleoir
Art Dragons
Fundraising for Arts & Business NI
Story
Belfast's soul is its vibrant arts sector. Join me in backing one of four hard-pressed but magnificent arts organisations who are bidding for funds from Belfast's business sector at a unique Dragons Den-style reception in Belfast's Stix and Stones Restaurant on Wednesday 1 July (6-7:30pm). I'm joining forces with Arts and Business NI and the Arts Council to welcome The Fall star Bronagh Waugh back to Belfast as our special guest alongside our master of ceremonies Tony Devlin (The Holy, Holy Bus).
Our four arts groups are:
Belfast Community Gospel Choir (http://www.bcgc.biz):
Belfast Community Gospel Choir is our first and only multicultural gospel choir. They are much sought-after due to their dynamic performances, which are charged with joy, passion and energy.
Said Founder Marie Lacey: "BCGC is comprised of over 100 auditioned singers who perform in various-sized ensembles. They take great pride in the fact that our community is multicultural and cross-community. Following decades of violence, division and political upheaval in Northern Ireland they are committed to performing music that carries the message of love, joy and peace and to promoting a positive image of our country."
Kabosh Theatre (http://www.kabosh.net):
Founded in 1994, Kabosh is committed to challenging the notion of what theatre is and where it takes place. The company aims to reinvent the ways in which stories are told, commissioning new writing and devising work for site-specific environments and installation.
Belfast Film Fest (https://belfastfilmfestival.org):
The Belfast Film Festival began in 1995 as part of Féile An Phobail and has developed hand in hand with the evolving culture of film patronage and filmmaking in the city.
We believe that film should be an experience, and so, as well as presenting the best in new, short and classic cinema in our spring and summer festivals, we’ve set ourselves apart by having site-specific screenings.
For us, site-specific cinema means hosting the classics of the silver screen in surroundings that enhance and intensify your experience of our films. To prove we’re serious, we’ve screened Evil Dead in the Ormeau Park, Cool Hand Luke in the Crumlin Road Gaol, The Breakfast Club in Christchurch Library, Odd Man Out at The Albert Clock, 2001: A Space Odyssey at the Titanic Dry Dock and Jaws in the Bangor Aurora swimming pool.
Wheelworks Youth Art Group (http://www.wheelworks.org.uk):
WheelWorks is a youth arts organisation working with children and young people aged 4 – 25 who may not otherwise have access to high quality artistic activity. We work in partnership with all types of communities throughout Northern Ireland to provide taster workshops and issue based programmes which help young people learn new skills and express themselves through traditional and digital art.
We have set an ambitious target of £4,000 for each group and you can help realise that dream by donating online here (when donating please indicate which of the four arts groups you wish to support in the 'leave a message' section on the next page.
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