www.creativityni.org #CreativityMonthCreativity

Month 2016A celebration of Creativity and the Creative Industries in the north of Ireland

Creativity Month is a celebration of Creativity and the Creative Industries in the north of Ireland every March.‘You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.’Maya Angelou

An initiative of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Creativity Month is held to stimulate new thinking and help creative people, creative ideas and creative businesses emerge and flourish.

Creativity Month 2016 will showcase the work of a diverse range of organisations, across government, business, education and the community and voluntary sectors, who are developing creative and innovative solutions to societal challenges.

For the full programme of more than 100 events, the latest news and creative opportunities, go to www.creativityni.org

Join the buzz: #CreativityMonth

Facebook.com/CreativityNI Twitter.com/Creativity_NI

Sign up for the Creativity NI e-newsletter:

Creative Centenaries

Talk by Dr Fearghal McGarry, Reader in Irish History at Queen’s University, exploring the experiences, hopes and dreams of the remarkable Abbey Rebels of 1916.

Talk by Neil Richardson exploring the stories behind ‘forgotten soldiers’ – Irish men who fought and died for the British Army during the Easter Rising.

HMS Caroline, PRONI and the Northern Ireland War Memorial host an afternoon tea and the opportunity to explore the role of the Wrens, HMS Caroline and the women of Belfast during the First and Second World Wars. Objects, costumes, archives, photographs, film and more will all be on show.

Opportunity to get hands on with some of the resources developed for the 1916 commemorations and learn how to deliver workshops in your community.

The Abbey Rebels of 1916March 3Newry City Library

According To Their Lights, Stories of Irishmen in the British Army at Easter 1916March 8, 12Downpatrick Library Banbridge Library

Women’s Work Through the Years – Afternoon Tea and ExplorationMarch 7PRONI, Belfast

Train The Trainer SessionMarch 4PRONI, Belfast

© Linen Hall Library

Belfast City Council’s Decade of Centenaries Exhibition, exploring the Rising and the Somme.

The Open University will lead a conference examining the significance of 1916 and its context across Britain and Ireland with historians Philip Orr, Dr Marie Coleman and Irish News Editor Noel Doran.

Inter-generational project combining history and arts. Participants will set sail glass bottles with LED lights and details of individual men and women from North Belfast who served in the First World War.

Talk by Jason Burke on Edward Carson’s and other Unionists’ responses to the Rising, in particular the reaction of political Unionism, the Protestant churches, and grassroots Unionist sentiment. Organised by Féile an Phobail.

Conference from Fermanagh & Omagh District Council Museum Services focusing on local, personal stories.

Belfast: Reflections on 1916 ExhibitionFrom March 8Belfast City Hall

What Did, and Does 1916 Mean Now?March 18Linen Hall Library, Belfast

North Belfast RemembersMarch 19HMS Caroline, Belfast

‘The Shame of Easter Week’ – Unionist Responses to the Easter RisingMarch 24 St Mary’s University College, Belfast

For more centenary events during March go to www.creativecentenaries.org

Fermanagh 100 Years On: Remembering 1916March 12Westville Hotel, Enniskillen

One of the leading children’s arts festivals in the UK and Ireland, offering up a feast of cultural treats for ages 0 to 14.

Belfast Children’s Festival March 4 - 9Various, Belfast

Highlight Festivals

Annual music festival celebrating the art of songwriting in a series of concerts, showcases and music events.

Belfast Nashville Songwriters FestivalMarch 2 - 6Various, Belfast

Belfast’s Spring Festival returns with the very best music, spoken word, debates, discussions as well as a series of stunning musical headlining nights at Writer’s Square.

Féile an EarraighMarch 21 - 28Various, Belfast

The eighth Ulster Festival of Art & Design includes some of the most creative and inspiring minds from the film, fashion, music and business worlds.

Ulster Festival of Art & DesignMarch 8 - 11Ulster University Belfast Campus

A week-long festival celebrating the role of the citizen in local political and cultural life through workshops, film, comedy and lively debate.

Imagine 2015: Festival of Politics and IdeasMarch 14 - 20Various, Belfast

For the fifth successive year, Libraries NI is participating in Creativity Month. The programme offers the opportunity to participate in what promises to be an exciting and diverse range of free events in libraries across Northern Ireland, with something for everyone. Events and activities will include a Community Drama residency, two Writers-in-Residence delivering creative writing programmes, Storyteller-in-Residence, author visits to reading groups based in libraries, Decade of Centenaries talks and discussions, a panel discussion about Derry’s walls, FabLab demonstrations, talks by visiting children’s authors and music events. Please ask for further information at your local library or visit the website www.librariesni.org.uk

Libraries NI celebrates Creativity MonthMarch 1 - 31Libraries across NI

Libraries NI

Creativity Month in Colin

Wide-ranging programme of events and creative opportunities, including pottery, basket making, craft and circus workshops, and Creativity Day on March 16. Visits include Game of Thrones locations tour, Belfast Giants match, Ulster American Folk Park, Historical Tour of Dublin with Eamon Phoenix, and Titanic Belfast. Wheelworks Art Cart and a 100-seat mobile cinema will also be offering workshops and screenings in the Colin area during Creativity Month. Organised by the Colin Neighbourhood Partnership.

Creativity Month in ColinMarch 1 - 31Various venues

A one-day celebration of creative entrepreneurship, cross-sector collaboration and innovation through experimentation, featuring keynote speaker Mark Miodownik.

A one-day coworking experience for entrepreneurs, featuring sessions led by Eve Earley (Empowering Change) and Suzanne Murdock (The Hub, Newry).

A showcase event featuring mini-masterclasses demonstrating how creative experiences can help people – and their businesses – to be successful.

Offering business owners the opportunity to collaborate, innovate and prosper with other creative sector organisations, while gaining advice from industry professionals.

Create: Innovate: Armagh ConferenceMarch 1The Market Place Theatre, Armagh

Coworking Saturday March 5The Thinking Cup Café, Belfast

Creative Training for Business March 10Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Belfast

Creative Connections Bridging BordersMarch 3Everglades Hotel, Derry~Londonderry

Highlight Conferences & Seminars

Creative CareersMarch 11, 15Belfast Metropolitan College – Titanic Campus, Belfast North West Regional College, Derry~Londonderry

Creativity ShowcaseMarch 22Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

Starting and Growing a Craft BusinessMarch 31Ballymena Business Centre

Digital Creative ExpoMarch 11South West College, Omagh

An event for teachers and students aged 13 to 16, bringing together a wide range of industry professionals from across the creative sectors, facilitating interactive sessions and workshops.

Business representatives will speak about, and demonstrate, their award-winning arts products and offer new perspectives on using arts and culture to boost your business.

A one-day networking and information event offering craft makers advice on starting and growing their own businesses. A new Craft Network will be launched for residents of the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council area.

Bringing together digital creatives for a day of workshops, keynotes and networking to raise awareness of the advantages of adopting a creative approach in business.

Kids can experience a different story every week, exploring what it is like to become their favourite characters. Suitable for ages 0 to 8.

Two family days allowing people of all ages to explore museum objects in new ways using the latest digital fabrication technologies, including 3D printers and laser cutters, with the Nerve Centre’s FabLab team.

Little Legends Reading RoomsEvery Friday at 11amEasons, Derry~Londonderry

Digital Fabrication and 3D Printing Family DaysMarch 5, 19Ulster Museum, Belfast

Family Events

Help the time travelling explorers to find a way of producing enough energy to start their malfunctioning time machine, complete with drama, danger, humour and exciting experiments.

The Big Bang TheatreVarious datesW5, Belfast

Swiss theatre company Vorstadt bring their enchanting play Bambi to Belfast for the first time. Recommended for ages 8+.

Learn new skills at this one-day traditional crafts tour. Featuring people making pokers and performing magic, spinning wool and spinning yarns, making soda and succotash.

An adaption of the traditional Chinese legend, DiaoChan: The Rise of the Courtesan is a tale of lust, jealousy and revenge. Suitable for ages 12+.

Re-live the dramatic experience of emigrants leaving for America during the 1700s, complete with music, song and dance.

BambiMarch 4,5The MAC

Craft Tour for FamiliesMarch 26Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh

DiaoChan: The Rise of the Courtesan March 31Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

The Emigrant’s FarewellMarch 16, 17Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh

Using LEGO® bricks, artist Warren Elsmore creates stunning ancient, modern and natural wonders.

Schools and community digital skills workshops exploring 1916 and facilitated visits.

Hands-on workshops looking at how your charity or community organisation can use technology to come up with new solutions, solve problems and help generate revenue streams.

Youth-led record label SYNC Records presents an evening of performances in celebration of International Women’s Day.

Learn how Minecraft can be used in the classroom and how to get hands on with this powerful teaching tool.

Brick Wonders ExhibitionMarch 1 - 31Nerve Centre

Creative Centenaries Urban Villages Outreach ProgrammeMarch 1 - 31Urban Villages areas in Belfast and Derry~Londonderry

Techies in Residence Idea Creation DaysMarch 22, 24Venues TBC

SYNC Records Presents... International Women’s DayMarch 8Café Nervosa

MinecraftEdu Teacher Training DaysMar 1 - 31Across NI

Nerve Centre / CultureTECH Events

Try your hand at making something using an array of digital fabrication machines, take a tour of the Lab, or simply meet some like-minded makers at the FabLab’s Open Days. All welcome.

Creative workshops especially designed for makers, tinkerers and creatives. Open to everyone aged aged 8 to 16.

An exploration into maker culture, featuring a series of discussions around its meaning, politics, history and future.

FabLab Nerve Centre, STEM Aware and CultureTECH will be running free workshops on everything from digital fabrication and Minecraft to making your own space rocket!

A month-long residency by artist Jim Ricks creating new art using FabLab tools and technologies, and an accredited training programme in FabLab tools and technologies for young people from the city.

Open Access FridaysMarch 4, 11, 18 FabLab Nerve Centre

Maker Assembly NIMarch 16 Farset Labs, Belfast

Curious CommunitiesMarch 11, 23 Lisnagelvin Playing Fields, Derry Churchtown Community Centre, Castlederg

Future Artist-Maker LabsMarch 1 - 31FabLab Nerve CentreAfter School Drop-ins

March 7, 21 FabLab Nerve Centre

FabLab / Maker Events

At A GlanceMarch 1 Create: Innovate: Armagh Conference

The Market Place Theatre, Armagh

Creativity Month in Colin, Colin Neighbourhood Partnership Belfast (events running throughout Mar)

March 2 Generation Innovation Night of Ambition 2016 St George’s Market, Belfast

Sutemos Youth Dance Group Dungannon Youth Resource Centre

Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival Various, Belfast (Runs until Mar 6)

March 3 Blinkered, The Playhouse Derry~Londonderry

Creative Connections Bridging Borders Everglades Hotel, Derry~Londonderry

The Abbey Rebels of 1916 Newry City Library

Pottery Day at Craft Northern Ireland Craft NI Resource Space, Belfast

Beyond Skin presents Orchestre des Réfugiés et Amis Clayton Hotel, Belfast

Paula Kane Creating and Managing Events Boom! Studios, Bangor

March 4 Alternative Energies Youth Dance Group Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre, Ballymoney

Exit by Eaman Craig The Playhouse, Derry~Londonderry

Purely Poetry Open Mic Night Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

Train the Trainer Session PRONI, Belfast

March 4 City of Derry Drama Festival Waterside Theatre Derry~Londonderry (Runs until Mar 12)

Belfast Children’s Festival Various, Belfast (Runs until Mar 9)

Belfast Children’s Festival: Bambi The MAC, Belfast

Belfast Children’s Festival: Everything That Isn’t Me The MAC, Belfast

Borderline Arts and Cultural Festival 2016 The Termon Complex & The Methodist Youth Hall, Kesh

Belfast Children’s Festival: The Way Back Home The Lyric Theatre, Belfast

Women’s Work Festival Various, Belfast (Runs until Mar 8)

March 5 The History of Song Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

Coworking Saturday The Thinking Cup Café, Belfast

Future Armagh: Heritage and Exploration Workshop AmmA Centre, Armagh

Digital Fabrication and 3D Printing Family Days Ulster Museum, Belfast

According To Their Lights, Stories of Irishmen in the British Army at Easter 1916 Banbridge Library

Willow Weaving Workshop Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

The Suffragette Cause Ulster Folk & Transport Museum

Felt Bag Workshop Ulster Folk & Transport Museum

March 5 Little Legends Reading Rooms Easons, Derry~Londonderry

‘Meet the Makers’ – Craft Demonstration Day Ard Crafts, Newtownards

Belfast Children’s Festival: Pause and Effect The MAC, Belfast

The Big Bang Theatre W5, Belfast

March 6 Vintage Style Stationery Workshop Ulster Folk & Transport Museum

Be a ‘Smithy’ for a Day Ulster Folk & Transport Museum

Voice for the Actor Workshop Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

Japanese Calligraphy Workshop Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

Techniques for Charcoal Drawing Workshop Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

March 7 Belfast Children’s Festival: All In Arts and Disability Forum, Belfast

Women’s Work Through the Years – Afternoon Tea and Exploration PRONI, Belfast

Ugandan Dance & Storytelling Workshop, Bangor Carnegie Library

March 8 Belfast Children’s Festival: Eilidh MacAskill The MAC, Belfast

Belfast: Reflections on 1916 Exhibition Belfast City Hall

Ulster University Festival of Art & Design Ulster University, Belfast Campus (Runs until Mar 11)

SYNC Records Presents… International Women’s Day Café Nervosa, Derry~Londonderry

Belfast Children’s Festival: If only Rosa could do Magic The MAC, Belfast

March 8 EQ: International Women’s Day Ballycastle Corrymeela, Ballycastle

Belfast Children’s Festival: If only Blue could be a Superhero The MAC, Belfast

March 9 Big Telly’s Spring Chickens ‘Invisible People’ Exhibition, Richmond Centre Derry~Londonderry (Runs until Mar 18)

Suteminis Youth Dance Group Dungannon Youth Resource Centre

Ulster University Festival of Art & Design: Pictorial Storytelling – Kitty Crowther Duncairn Centre for Culture and Arts, Belfast

Ulster University Festival of Art & Design: The Stone Tapes – A Sound Art Installation Giant’s Ring, Lisburn

Sutemos Youth Dance Group Dungannon Youth Resource Centre

March 10 Creative Training for Business Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Belfast

‘Creating Space’ Session Boom! Studios, Bangor

Ulster University Festival of Art & Design: Transmission Ballycastle Harbour Master’s Office, Ballycastle

Belfast Fashion Week 2016 Venue TBC, Belfast (Runs until Mar 13)

Ulster University Festival of Art & Design: Culture, Identity and Design – Fernando Gutiérrez Conor Lecture Theatre, Ulster University Belfast Campus

Ulster University Festival of Art & Design: Black Lives Matter in the Age of Obama - Gary Younge Auditorium, Ulster University Coleraine Campus

At A GlanceMarch 11 Creative Careers

Belfast Metropolitan College – Titanic Campus, Belfast

Alternative Energies Youth Dance Group Joey Dunlop Centre, Ballymoney

HRSE Season Ensemble: Reich The Space SERC, Bangor

Digital Creative Expo South West College, Omagh

Ulster University Festival of Art & Design: Still/Life/Syria – Osama Esid Conor Lecture Theatre, Ulster University Belfast Campus

March 12 Future Armagh: Techniques and Ideation Workshop AmmA Centre, Armagh

Lobster Pot Workshop Ulster Folk & Transport Museum

Fermanagh 100 Years On: Remembering 1916 Westville Hotel, Enniskillen

Costume: From Head to Toe Ulster Folk & Transport Museum

Drawn Threadwork Lavender Bag Workshop Ulster Folk & Transport Museum

Little Legends Reading Rooms Easons, Derry~Londonderry

March 13 Traditional Printmaking Workshop (Speed Session) Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

Pretty and Practical: Handmade Soap Workshop Ulster Folk & Transport Museum

Memories of Women: Life in the Past Ulster Folk & Transport Museum

Contact Improvisation Workshop Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

March 13 Accent for Actors Workshop Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

Bladesmithing: Whittling Knife Workshop Ulster Folk & Transport Museum

Dance Step Workshop: Foxtrot and Quickstep Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

March 14 Imagine 2016: Festival of Politics and Ideas Various, Belfast (Runs until Mar 20)

March 15 Creative Careers North West Regional College, Derry~Londonderry

Game of Thrones Photography Tour Engage Live Derry~Londonderry

Gordon Osràm’s Funeral Riddell’s Warehouse, Belfast

March 16 Maker Assembly NI Farset Labs, Belfast

Waste No Time Street Skit Pop Up Democracy Castle Place, Belfast

The Emigrant’s Farewell Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh

Suteminis Youth Dance Group Dungannon Youth Resource Centre

Sutemos Youth Dance Group Dungannon Youth Resource Centre

HRSE Solo Series 3: Cello (David McCann) Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

March 17 The Emigrant’s Farewell Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh

March 18 Big Telly’s Spring Chickens ‘Invisible People’ Exhibition Community Centre, Eglinton (Runs until Mar 24)

Alternative Energies Youth Dance Group Joey Dunlop Centre, Ballymoney

March 18 What Did, and Does 1916 Mean Now? Linen Hall Library, Belfast

March 19 Embroidery Workshop 1 Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

Digital Fabrication and 3D Printing Family Days Ulster Museum, Belfast

Connected Crafts Farset Labs, Belfast

North Belfast Remembers HMS Caroline, Belfast

Little Legends Reading Rooms Easons, Derry~Londonderry

Three Songs on Love to Learn in Italian Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

Studio Symphony Orchestra: Orchestral Masterpieces Ulster Hall, Belfast

The Virgin Father by Jimmy McAleavey The Playhouse, Derry~Londonderry

March 20 Spring Blossom Acrylic Painting Workshop Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

Japanese Sumi-E with Calligraphy Workshop Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

March 21 Connected Crafts Farset Labs, Belfast

Féile an Earraigh Various Belfast (Runs until Mar 28)

March 22 Creativity Showcase Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

Northern Ireland Student Awards 2016 Black Box, Belfast

Techies in Residence Ideas Creation Day Venue TBC

Game Development Five-Day Workshop Farset Labs, Belfast

March 23 Sutemos Youth Dance Group Dungannon Youth Resource Centre

March 24 Big Telly’s Spring Chickens ‘Invisible People’ Exhibition Dungiven Library (Runs until Mar 31)

Mark Thomas – Trespass The Playhouse, Derry~Londonderry

Perceptions Workshop Skainos Centre, Belfast

Techies in Residence Ideas Creation Day Venue TBC

‘The Shame of Easter Week’ – Unionist Response to the Easter Rising St Mary’s University College, Belfast

March 25 Alternative Energies Youth Dance Group Joey Dunlop Centre, Ballymoney

‘A Perfect Setting’ Exhibition The Loft Gallery, Portaferry

March 26 Craft Tour for Families Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh

Embroidery Workshop 2 Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

Arabic Salsa Workshop Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

Little Legends Reading Rooms Easons, Derry~Londonderry

HRSE Season Ensemble: Edge of Reflection Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

March 30 Sutemos Youth Dance Group Dungannon Youth Resource Centre

Music Unite at The MAC The MAC, Belfast

March 31 Starting and Growing a Craft Business Ballymena Business Centre

DiaoChan: The Rise of the Courtesan Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

New events added daily.For more details and the full events programme, go towww.creativityni.org