Arts Round-up SOOTHING STORIES Tourism NI has launched an audio-series of enchanting Soothing Stories from Northern Ireland, bringing listeners on a tranquil journey through beautiful landscapes, rich culture and extraordinary heritage. Some of Northern Ireland’s finest talents were involved in the production of the four-part series, with actors Conleth Hill and Bronagh Waugh lending their voices to bring the local terrains, mythical tales and stories to life. As we all yearn to travel, Tourism NI is providing the ultimate armchair travel experience from the comfort of your own home. These new calming audio-originals are an opportunity for listeners to escape and embrace unique magical adventures from Northern Ireland, even for a short while, as a bedtime story or on a daily walk. Designed to inspire discovery of Northern Ireland’s Giant Spirit, you can unlock your wanderlust and stride through the Narnia inspired Mourne Mountains, then on to Armagh’s blossoming orchards. Transport yourself to the Fermanagh Lakelands and the magnificent Sperrin Mountains through to the walled city of Derry~Londonderry, the Causeway Coastal Route, Belfast City and the Ards Peninsula. The stories have been written by author and acclaimed travel writer, Seth Linder, from his home in Rostrevor, County Down. You can listen to the four Soothing Stories of Northern Ireland for free on the Discover Northern Ireland Spotify channel: http://bit.ly/SoothingStoriesNI For more inspirational places to visit in Northern Ireland, visit www. discovernorthernireland.com.
Conleth Hill
BLACKSTAFF AT 50 At the end of March, the Imagine! Belfast Festival kicked off the 50th anniversary celebrations for local publisher Blackstaff Press with an online event. Former managing director, Anne Tannahill, and current managing editor, Patsy Horton, chatted to Dr Eamonn Hughes about some of Blackstaff’s most influential books and authors. The event also saw contributions from author Paul Arthur, designer Wendy Dunbar and Head of Literature and Drama at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Damian Smyth. In 1971, at the height of the Troubles, Jim and Diane Gracey took a huge leap of faith and founded the publishing house in Northern Ireland. Fifty years and one thousand titles later, Blackstaff Press continues as one of the most important publishing houses on this island, with a reputation for originality, quality and tenacity. Next month Blackstaff will publish Susan McKay’s Northern Protestants: On Shifting
Ground. Comprised of almost 100 interviews and incisive commentary, this book creates a portrait of a surprisingly diverse community against the backdrop of social justice movements, Brexit and the centenary of the foundation of the State. Also due for release is a new collection of short stories, Moving About the Place, from the brilliant Evelyn Conlon. And there are more short stories in the autumn – from Jan Carson, Bernie McGill, Carlo Gébler and others – specially commissioned for a new anthology of strange stories from Northern Ireland, The Black Dreams. Also in the autumn Blackstaff will publish the third and final part of Colin Breen’s hugely successful series, A Force Like No Other; a new book from the team at the Ulster Fry; and Stand Up, Speak Out, a memoir from the peace activist, human rights defender and former politician, Monica McWilliams. For more information: www.blackstaffpress.com
NEW DIRECTOR OF FIGHTING WORDS Hilary Copeland joined Fighting Words Northern Ireland, the creative writing network for children and young people, as its new director in March 2021. Hilary has worked in the arts sector since 2008, for festivals, arts and theatre companies in Edinburgh, Belfast and Dublin. She has worked across business management, strategic planning, creative programming and event delivery. Hilary started her career in literature at the Stanza Poetry Festival and The Byre Theatre before joining the Programming Team at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, working on the Children & Schools Programme. As a freelance arts manager, producer and programmer, she has worked for clients including Belfast International Arts Festival, NI Science Festival, Kabosh, Culture Northern Ireland, Whittrick Press, Belfast Book Festival and Young at Art. Hilary led long-standing arts and cultural charity, The John Hewitt Society, from 2013 - 2019, where she ran the John Hewitt International Summer School and founded the Hillsborough Festival of Literature & Ideas. In 2019 she joined the Irish Writers Centre as acting director, where
she successfully led the IWC team during the COVID-19 pandemic, moving to remote online delivery to continue offering courses, resources and support to writers throughout the crisis. Visit www.fightingwords.co.uk
Hilary Copeland
58
PAGE58-59.indd 2
31/03/2021 10:44
