WOMAD presents a Culture of Peace Legacy for Coleraine

During February and March a variety of artists representing the world’s most prestigious international arts festival ‘WOMAD’ will hold an extensive intercultural educational programme. This features on the world of music, arts and dance in Coleraine, following a very successful outreach programme hosted in the Borough last September as part of Coleraine Borough Council’s Culture Night.

The WOMAD Coleraine Culture of Peace Programme in association with Coleraine Borough Council’s Good Relations Unit, has been funded by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure under the Derry City of Culture Legacy Initiative.

Now in its 33rd year, WOMAD (World of Music Arts & Dance), co-founded by rock icon Peter Gabriel has hosted festivals and education programmes in twenty-six countries and is considered as the pioneer of multicultural festivals. The upcoming programme will provide a host of innovative music projects through the WOMAD Foundation with some very special guests

In 2013 Beyond Skin, an organisation now in it's 11th year using world arts to address racism & sectarianism, became the local partner for WOMAD in Northern Ireland. Beyond Skin began an ambitious four year outreach programme across Northern Ireland to engage and unite communities and embrace diversity and global education through the arts.

Since its launch in January 2013 the WOMAD Northern Ireland programme has delivered over three hundred workshops across fourteen council districts with six showcase events. It has also provided short term employment to over fifty artists with over five hundred people learning a creative skill.

The forthcoming WOMAD Coleraine programme will not only give people of all ages the chance to work alongside professional, international artists, but will also provide an opportunity for some individuals to gain an ‘Understanding Diversity’ accreditation. This will be gained through the WOMADNI OCN course, developed by ‘Beyond Skin’ and ‘Northern Ireland Children’s Enterprise (NICE)’.

Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister, Carál Ní Chuilín said: “My Department’s support for the WOMAD project demonstrates my commitment to ensuring a lasting legacy from the 2013 City of Culture year across the wider North West. The project will be delivered in Coleraine, which DCAL has identified as a target area for support as part of the Department’s North West Development Programme. It will use arts and creativity as a means of embracing cultural diversity and it will be open and accessible to all communities. I am pleased to be able to support his project as part of my Department’s key priority of promoting equality and tackling poverty and social exclusion”

Northern Ireland Childrens Enterprise Director Carmel McCavana said, “NICE are delighted to be working in partnership with Beyond Skin & WOMAD to bring this great opportunity to life. Whilst learning more about the world around us and how we can contribute towards a better shared future, participants can also learn a new artistic skill in the process of doing so.  And the accreditation will be a welcome addition on any CV or job application.”

The Coleraine programme will also welcome special guest artists through WOMAD and the WOMAD Foundation who will be delivering special events and innovative music projects & performances with children & young people

Mayor of Coleraine, Councillor George Duddy commented, “This WOMAD project is fantastic and I would encourage everyone to get involved and participate in the activities organized for Coleraine during February and March. It will be an opportunity to enjoy a wide selection of music, arts and dance. Our cultural diversities should be celebrated and it’s always an experience to learn about each other’s cultures. Events like those organized by WOMAD and supported by Coleraine Borough Council help encourage mutual respect and understanding within our community. Why not take the opportunity to find it what it’s all about when it returns to Coleraine in the next few weeks?”

Beyond Skin Chief Executive Officer Darren Ferguson said, “Last year through the Coleraine, Moyle & Limavady Good Relations Cluster initiative we established so many new relationships and the WOMAD projects injected a new fresh energy into the area. This time we are really pulling out all the stops to build on what has gone before to enable people to reach their full potential to create a peaceful and equal society. I am truly excited about what is to come”.

In conjunction with workshops in music arts and dance in schools and community groups across Coleriane there will be special events for International Women’s Day and St Patrick’s Day. There will also be shared activities, which complement the WOMAD Coleraine project in partnership with the  Programme for InterCultural Arts Support initiative (PICAS), in association with the Community Arts Partnership and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

News of special events and activities can be found on the WOMAD in Northern Ireland website, www.womadni.com or on twitter @womadni #womadcoleraine.

For news on WOMAD festivals taking place globally visit the official WOMAD website www.womad.org

For information of the WOMAD Foundation please visit www.womadfoundation.org

For more information contact the Beyond Skin office by emailing [email protected]

Or telephoning 07877756987

www.womadni.com

#womadni

WOMAD Foundation presents Mauricio & Heidi

Video link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsW-yGyuOTw

"you can only imagine what the workshops will be like!"