WHAT ULSTER NEEDS IS MORE MARCHES..

Advisor for 2018 City of Culture bid says bands are assets & can win title

MARCHING bands should be promoted as a “creative resource” to help snatch the title of European Capital of Culture, it has been suggested.

The city councils of Belfast and Derry will make a joint application to be selected for the accolade in 2023.

And advisor Philippe Kern, from Brussels-based creative consultancy firm KEA, made the proposal in a speech addressing a bid conference at Belfast City Hall.

He suggested Northern Ireland could replicate how bands feature as a prominent cultural expression in Corfu – which is home to dozens of different ones.

Admitting that marchers “can lead to some disturbances”, Mr Kern said he was aiming further down the line.

He added: “Here, they can lead to some disturbances or troubles and the idea was maybe for 2023.

“You could develop an idea around marching bands and maybe organise a competition with ones from Corfu – and other kinds of musicians throughout the world.

“Get them to show that, actually, they are truly a cultural resource – a creative resource which can be apolitical, or political in a different way.”

And Mr Kern suggested that the bands could actually end up bringing Northern Ireland together as a society.

He explained: “I think the advantage of thinking creatively about these issues is making the most of your cultural assets – ones you maybe don’t consider cultural.

“They may trigger difficulty, but might be truly turned into a way of creating cohesion in society.”

Mr Kern also believes peace

YESTERDAY

walls in Belfast and Derry could be a cultural resource during the bid.

He said: “Cities make huge progress and there is a thirst for breaking down those walls.

“Here, what I’d like to see is for authorities to trust your cultural workers and artists to bring down those walls – because they have the courage to address those walls.

“Maybe in a controversial way, but controversy is a part of democratic debate.”

The two cities announced in February they’d enter a joint bid in an attempt to be named European Capital of Culture in 2023.

The accolade is given to two cities per year and is highly sought after as an opportunity to promote tourism.

The cities will submit proposals to the UK Department of Culture in October. The chosen city will be announced in 2018.

BELFAST

Bands a form of ‘creative expression’ Marching musicians can be ‘apolitical’