PREVIEWING the non-partisan ‘Imagine! Belfast’ festival with its eclectic mix of talks, comedy, music, film, theatre, workshops, tours and exhibitions to encourage people to discuss and debate. 20-26 March.
Will the debate over Europe provide a welcome distraction from the normal politicking during Assembly elections? Will it lift public and political heads out of purely local issues to think about the bigger picture and how Northern Ireland sees itself within Europe? Or will it heighten our identity politics?
Belfast’s newest festival launched this morning in the Lord Mayor’s parlour in the City Hall. Nichola Mallon described the city of Belfast as “young, edgy, colourful and creative” as she introduced The Belfast Festival of Ideas and Politics. Organiser Peter O’Neill [Ed – no, not that P O’Neill!] explains that the festival’s mission is “to stimulate people’s minds and passions [with] an annual programme of discussion and debate”. None of the invited keynote speakers are politicians. listen to ‘Peter O’Neill …
