Culture of Belfast facts for kids

The culture of Belfast is a lot like the city itself – it's a mix of many different things, just like the wider culture of Northern Ireland. Belfast has been changing a lot, becoming a more exciting place for arts and culture. Even during tough times, Belfast used art and music to express itself. Today, the city is becoming known around the world for its vibrant culture.

A Look Back at Belfast's Culture

For over 200 years, Belfast has been a hub for learning and culture. People even called it the Athens of Ireland because it was so famous for its love of knowledge.

In 2003, Belfast tried to become the European Capital of Culture for 2008. This big plan was called Imagine Belfast. It aimed to make Belfast a place where different histories and beliefs could come together. The plan focused on themes like "Through the eyes of a Child" and "To live without walls." These ideas were all about bringing people together and making a better city for everyone. Even though Belfast didn't win, the effort wasn't wasted.

The city created a new plan for arts and culture from 2003 to 2006. This plan continued the spirit of the Imagine Belfast bid. It really helped culture and arts grow in the city. For example, in 2004–05, 1.8 million people went to cultural events in Belfast. That's 400,000 more than the year before! Also, 80,000 people took part in arts activities, which was twice as many as in 2003–04.

As Belfast has become more successful, culture and arts have also become very important for the city's economy. Belfast City Council has worked to support creativity, bring communities together, and create new jobs. In 2004–05, arts and culture helped create many full-time jobs.

Because Belfast is more peaceful and has more cultural events, more tourists are visiting than ever before. In 2004–05, 5.9 million people visited Belfast. They spent a lot of money, which helped the city's economy.

Fun Festivals in Belfast

Belfast hosts many exciting festivals throughout the year.

Féile an Phobail is said to be Belfast's biggest festival. It's also one of the largest community festivals in Europe! This annual summer festival celebrates Irish and international culture. It takes place near the Falls Road. The festival also has smaller events, like Féile an Earraigh in the spring. Famous music groups like Westlife and Girls Aloud have performed there. The festival also hosts interesting talks and discussions.

Queen's University used to host the annual international Belfast Festival. This festival covered all kinds of art, including theatre, dance, music, and comedy. It attracted over 50,000 visitors, making it the biggest festival of its kind in Ireland.

Tennents Vital is a popular music festival held every August. It takes place at Boucher Playing Fields. Belsonic is another big music festival held in August. It happens in the redeveloped Titanic Quarter.

Performance Arts and Movies

Belfast has a main theatre called The Lyric. It's the only theatre in the country that produces plays full-time. Famous actor Liam Neeson started his career at The Lyric. Local writers like Martin Lynch and Marie Jones have written plays for this theatre. Kenneth Branagh, another well-known actor, was also born in Belfast. The Old Museum Arts Centre is an old building in the city centre. It offers music, theatre, comedy, dance workshops, and art exhibitions.

Belfast has several places for live performances. The Grand Opera House was finished in 1895. It has been beautifully restored. The Ulster Hall (built 1859–1862) was first used for grand dances. Now, it's mainly a place for concerts and sports events. It has 13 paintings that show Belfast's history. The Waterfront Hall opened in 1997. It's a modern building that has become a symbol of Belfast.

The Belfast Film Festival is a growing annual event. It started in the mid-1990s. Belfast has become a popular place to film movies. This is thanks to a new tax deal that makes Northern Ireland attractive for filmmakers. Parts of the movie "Closing the Ring" were filmed in Belfast, on Cave Hill.

Visual Arts and Street Art

Belfast has been home to some important artists. Sir John Lavery was known for his portraits of famous people. William Conor and Paul Henry changed how people saw Ireland through their art. Belfast has many art galleries, including Catalyst Arts and Belfast Exposed, which focuses on photography. The University of Ulster's Art and Design Campus in the Cathedral Quarter has been greatly improved.

Some parts of the city have many murals. These are paintings on walls that show the history and beliefs of the communities living there. For example, murals in areas like the Shankill Road often show loyalty to the British Crown. Murals in areas like the Falls Road often show themes like a united Ireland. Sometimes, the same folk hero, Cúchulainn, can appear on murals from different communities. In recent years, some of these murals have been replaced with less political images. These include murals of writer C. S. Lewis and footballer George Best.

Another popular type of folk art is banners. These are used by groups like the Orange Order. They are usually painted on silk and carried in parades, like on Saint Patrick's Day or the Twelfth of July. While wall murals can vary in quality, banners are often painted by professionals and are very detailed. Many banners show scenes related to Protestant history, like William III of England at the Battle of the Boyne. Other banners might show Bible scenes, local landmarks, or members of the groups. Catholic banners often show Saint Patrick or Irish heroes.

Music Scene

Belfast now has amazing venues like the Waterfront Hall and the Odyssey. This means that big music stars often come to perform in Belfast.

Van Morrison, a very famous singer in Rock and Roll history, was born and grew up in Belfast. He has been making music for over 50 years! Belfast is also home to Brian Kennedy, a popular singer, and the punk band Stiff Little Fingers. The Undertones, a band from Derry, often played in Belfast. They became famous when a Belfast record shop owner released their song "Teenage Kicks." Belfast also has a growing club scene. David Holmes is a well-known DJ and musician from the city.

Belfast has a long history of underground music clubs. These often use old industrial buildings as cool venues.

In classical music, the Ulster Orchestra is Northern Ireland's only professional symphony orchestra. It has been performing since 1966. Belfast musicians like Sir James Galway, a famous flutist, and Barry Douglas, a classical pianist, are known worldwide.

The band Snow Patrol wrote their song "Take back the city tonight" about Belfast. They lived nearby in Bangor. The local rap group Kneecap has become popular. They have also helped young people learn more about the Irish language.

Literature from Belfast

Belfast has been home to many important writers, poets, and playwrights. C. S. Lewis, who wrote The Chronicles of Narnia, was born in Belfast. Other famous writers from Belfast include Brian Moore, Bernard MacLaverty, Glenn Patterson, and Robert McLiam Wilson. Poet Louis MacNeice was also born in the city. Famous poets like Seamus Heaney and Paul Muldoon were part of a group called The Belfast Group. Modern poets who write about Belfast include Leontia Flynn and Sinéad Morrissey.

Images for kids

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  The historic Linen Hall Library in Belfast.

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  The Ulster Hall, a famous concert venue.

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  An Orange Order banner depicting William III.