Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Craic ‘n’ roll
Belfast’s rich musical heritage recognised with Unesco award
BELFAST has been awarded City Of Music status by Unesco – making it the first city in Ireland to achieve the recognition.
And it is only the third city in the UK to be awarded the title, along with Liverpool which got it in 2016 and Glasgow in 2008.
The move is about “celebrating the city’s rich musical heritage and recognising the importance of music to its future”, Belfast City Council said yesterday.
As of today, there are 59 Cities of Music forming part of the prestigious Unesco Creative Cities Network.
Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody and Emmy-nominated composer Hannah Peel have been appointed official Belfast Music patrons.
They supported the delivery of the Belfast bid, which was led by a City of Music Steering Group and submitted by council following extensive engagement and partnership work.
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Kate Nicholl, said: “Belfast is proud of its music culture. Creativity and resilience are in the very fabric of our city and our people.
“Last April, we launched a 10-year cultural strategy which will see a year of culture in 2024.
“The Unesco accolade is the perfect way to kickstart these plans, much of which revolves around music.”
Over the next few years Belfast - as a holder of the title - will deliver a series of high-profile music events. It will also aim to build its infrastructure to further support music creators, see music woven into public spaces and places to ensure the power and benefits of music can be felt by all who live, work in or visit the city.
Gary Lightbody said: “Music is woven into the DNA of Belfast. We have so many incredible bands and artists – and more every single year.
“I’ve watched in these last 25 years of relative peace the music scene grow and then thrive and now burst at the seams with fearless and limitless talent.”
Hannah Peel said: “Belfast is an alive, vibrant and a musically powerful city. “Now is the time to celebrate those that are making a difference in music, in culture.
“As well as artists like Van Morrison, there is female empowered punk, new wave, Brit nominated EDM, jazz and an abundance of classical music that runs through the veins of this city.
“Yet to the wider world, it is all unheard of, underground, eclipsed by its past, but still supplying a pulse and vibrancy that needs to be lauded for the future.”
James Bridge, Chief Executive and Secretary-general, UK National Commission for Unesco, said: “Throughout its history, the city has nurtured diverse music scenes and acts, from harpists to counter-culture punks, to rock, ravers and outstanding traditional music.”
Perth was awarded Unesco status as Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art.