|
The culture of Belfast, much like the city, is a microcosm of the culture of Northern Ireland. Hilary McGrady, chief executive of ''Imagine Belfast'', claimed that "Belfast has begun a social, economic and cultural transformation that has the potential to reverberate across Europe."〔(Imagine Belfast 2008 Official Website ) (Archived on 22 November 2002)〕 Belfast is split between two distinct vibrant cultural communities simply described as Catholic and Protestant both of which have made their own contributions to the city's culture. Throughout the troubles, Belfast continued to express itself through art and music. Today, it has a growing international cultural reputation as both communities move into the future and prove the relevance of art in education and healthcare environments as well as using it to heal the divisions of the past and promote social growth for the future.〔(Rediscover NI – Arts and Culture )〕 ==History== For over two hundred years, Belfast has been a cultural and academic centre giving it the nickname the ''Athens of Ireland''.〔(E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898 )〕 In fact in 1841, J. Stirling Coyne wrote about Belfast "''so celebrated has this town become for its patronage and love of learning, that it has acquired the proud title of the modern Athens''".〔(The Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland with Historical and Descriptive Text by J. Stirling Coyne, N. P. Willis, etc. Volume I Chapter 1. circa 1841 )〕 In 2003, Belfast had an unsuccessful bid for the 2008 European Capital of Culture. The ambitious bid was run by an independent company called ''Imagine Belfast'' and boasted that it would "make Belfast the meeting place of Europe's legends where the meaning of history and belief find a home and a sanctuary from caricature, parody and oblivion."〔(Web Review: The official websites on UK bids for European capital of culture 2008 ''The Guardian'' )〕 Belfast's bid was based on three main themes: "''Through the eyes of a Child''", "''Made in Belfast''", and "To live without walls". These themes of unity and peace and creating a better city for our children became the core of the ''Imagine Belfast'' bid. Ultimately the bid may have been wrecked by the city's history and volatile politics.〔(Six cities shortlisted for culture capital bid ''The Guardian'' David Ward and Helen Carter Thursday October 31, 2002 )〕 ''Imagine Belfast'' spent £1.2 million of public money and £100,000 of private funding in developing their bid.〔(Imagine Belfast Audit Report )〕 However, Belfast City Council insist this money was not wasted. The legacy of the failed bid was a new ''Culture and Arts Plan 2003–2006'' to take forward the spirit of the ''Imagine Belfast'' bid. The chief executive of Belfast City Council described the bid as "a catalytic event leading to a step change in the development of arts and culture in the city".〔 Indeed, the statistics show this to be true. In 2004–05, culture and arts events in Belfast were attended by 1.8 million people (400,000 more than the previous year). The same year, 80,000 people participated in culture and arts activities, twice as many as in 2003–04.〔(Belfast City Council Cultural Strategy )〕 As Belfast becomes more prosperous and its citizens have more disposable income, culture and the arts are becoming economically important to the city. Belfast City Council has promoted culture with the goals of encouraging creativity, bringing communities together to facilitate reconciliation, and creating new jobs. In 2004–05 culture and arts initiatives created the equivalent of 413 full-time jobs (37% more than the previous year).〔 A combination of relative peace, international investment and an active promotion of arts and culture is attracting more tourists to Belfast than ever before. 5.9 million people visited Belfast in 2004–05 (up 10% from the previous year) and spent £262.5 million.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Culture of Belfast」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|