Cork - Belfast Festival Link Formalised

Cork-Belfast Festival Link Formalised

Co-operation Ireland’s Cork Committee last week formalised the link between Cork’s Lifelong Learning Festival and West Belfast’s Féile an Phobail.

The linkage forms part of an initiative by Co-operation Ireland to increase synergy and learning by the festival organizers in both cities.

The idea for the linkage originated three years ago, when South City Resource Centre in Belfast and Mayfield Community Arts Centre, Cork came together through Co-operation Ireland’s Beyond Borders project. Though a series of meetings and residentials, they jointly created a mural depicting life in the two cities.

Co-operation Ireland’s Project Manager Barry Fennell explained that the formalizing of the linkage will create further opportunities for the people of the two cities
“I am hoping that this new and innovative cross-border partnership will help alleviate the exclusion of community groups and local people because
of the difficulty of accessing the arts by promoting community engagement, cultural exploration and diversity.

“This forward thinking approach, endorsed by Co-operation Ireland, will arrange, support and facilitate new opportunities between communities
from different parts of the island and will cultivate collaborative working, shared learning, local endeavour and cross-border co-operation.”