• Belfast Musicians Set for UNESCO City of Music Initiative

    July 6, 2023 - By 

    Two fast-rising Belfast singer-songwriters have been selected for a new UNESCO City of Music Initiative. Off the back of Belfast being awarded prestigious status in late 2021, Niall McDowell and Ciara O’Neill will travel to fellow UNESCO City of Music London, in Ontario, Canada, to perform as part of the Home County Music and Art Festival. Arranged through the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, which brings cities together to share skills and develop networks between musicians, the trip will also see McDowell and O’Neill taking part in co-writing sessions with other artists and get the chance to work with world-class producers…

  • Join the Belfast Region Music Board

    January 20, 2023 - By 

    Belfast City Council has made an open call for applications to join the Belfast Region Music Board. As part of their council’s music strategy, Music Matters – a Roadmap for Belfast, the music board is being created to bring to life the city being awarded UNESCO City of Music status, helping to “embed music in all communities across the city to make music a sustainable career option for creators and people who support them”. With the hope of bringing together 15 to 20 members, the initiative is inviting expressions of interest from people in the music industry to sit on…

  • Belfast Becomes a UNESCO City of Music

    November 8, 2021 - By 

    Belfast has become UNESCO City of Music. The city has been awarded the prestigious City of Music title, which recognises its rich musical heritage, as well as the importance of music to its future. It’s only the third city in the UK to be awarded the coveted status. Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Kate Nicholl, said: “We are thrilled and honoured that Belfast has been bestowed the prestigious UNESCO City of Music title and to have Gary Lightbody and Hannah Peel on board as official patrons. This is wonderful news for Belfast! “Belfast is proud of its music culture. Creativity…