Portrait of a Nation the biggest youth arts project in the United Kingdom

Arts students bringing culture to the capital

2 April 2009

There was a colourful clash of cultures in the Lord Mayor`s Parlour, as students from Belfast and Liverpool came together for a fusion of art, music and theatre.

The young people were involved in `Portrait of a Nation`, the biggest youth arts project in the United Kingdom, and members of Belfast`s Urban Arts Academy took part in Liverpool`s Capital of Culture year of celebrations.

`Portrait of a Nation` challenged young people from 17 UK cities to explore their cultural roots and the role they played in shaping their identity.

They were welcomed to Clarendon Dock by Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Tom Hartley, who was treated to performances of street theatre, DJing and mural drawing.

Councillor Hartley said:

?Belfast is a vibrant city with a rich cultural heritage and today we have young people visiting from Liverpool, which recently enjoyed a wonderful year as Capital of Culture.

?It`s great to see so many talented young people coming together and sharing ideas and today is a fantastic example of Belfast`s thriving creative and urban arts.

?The arts is a major lifeblood for any successful city and like Liverpool, Belfast is vibrant and welcoming. With investments of around ?500m this year, the message is that Belfast is very much open for business in 2009.?

The initiative was supported by Heritage Lottery Fund and Norfolk Line.

ENDS

http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/news/news.asp?id=1608