This week’s events, exhibitions and essential buys. If you’ve an event you’d like to include, email btfeatures@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
1 in 10 people from Belfast (11%) would go on holiday to a warm climate without packing sun protection, thinking they’ll be ‘fine’ without it. Statistic according to O2 to mark Skin Cancer Awareness Month
Clubbing together
NSPCC Northern Ireland is calling on golf enthusiasts of all ages and abilities to ‘tee-off’ in aid of children at the charity’s Childhood Day Open Golf Tournament on June 7, taking place at Castle Hume. There will be a putting competition, and event attendees will be able to avail of facilities in Castle Hume’s clubhouse, including the restaurant and bar.
Entry fee for the tournament is £15pp for visitors and £5pp for Castle Hume Golf Club members.
Congratulations
A round of applause for the Belfast School of Performing Arts, which secured three awards at the MTI Junior Theatre Festival 2024 including the overall outstanding Production Award. The two-day event saw 60 schools and youth groups from across the globe attend workshops, adjudications and showcases of new works. This year, there were international groups from countries including the Czech Republic, Georgia, Italy, the US and of course Northern Ireland. The students also received the prestigious Achievement in Acting Award. Special congratulations must go to David McKenna (11) from north Belfast for receiving an Individual Outstanding Performance Award for his overall performance at the event.
An outdoor gallery
The popular ForM Sculpture Exhibition will make a welcome return to Bangor Castle’s Walled Garden from today. Showcasing over 40 sculptures created by talented artists from across the island of Ireland, this unique outdoor setting invites visitors to observe art in a different way. It continues until June 30. Walled Garden opening hours are: 10am – 8pm Monday to Thursday, and 10am – 6pm at weekends and Bank Holidays. Admission is free. Many of the sculptures are available to purchase and maps are available at each of the garden’s entrances to guide visitors around the exhibition.
Book early for Earlies
Rachel Allen, will headline this year’s Comber Earlies Food Festival on June 22. The bestselling cookery writer and chef will be joined by experienced broadcaster Lotte Duncan at the popular foodie event, where visitors can grab the opportunity to discover how best to cook the prized Comber Earlies potatoes. Running as part of Taste Summer in Ards and North Down, the free-to-attend festival will be located in Comber Leisure Centre car park for the second year running. Open 11am-5pm on June 22.
www.visitardsandnorthdown.com/TasteSummer
Hitting the high notes
Some Distant Shore, from June 15-16, will give people the opportunity to experience three of Titanic Belfast’s immersive themed spaces in one event for the first time, thanks to a partnership between Titanic Belfast and NI chamber choir Cappella Caeciliana. The event will take place across The Grand Atrium, The Ship of Dreams and the Titanic Suite featuring the Grand Staircase. Tickets are priced at £30pp and £20pp for Under 25s and include a complimentary drink on arrival.
Art for art’s sake
Ards Arts Centre in Newtownards has welcomed two new art exhibitions for June: Meilé, a solo exhibition by Juste Bernotaite and Humans, a solo exhibition by Aoife Tolerton. Juste Bernotaite, is a Lithuanian painter based in Belfast. Her practice combines the exploration of the history of her motherland, as well as personal experiences growing up there. Bangor-based Aoife Tolerton seeks to explore human interaction and reaction to their environment through her work. Both exhibitions are free to visit until June 27.
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Date for your diary
The Belfast Photo Festival runs from June 6-30 and its landmark 10th anniversary edition. This year’s festival, supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, Arts & Business Northern Ireland and Alexander Boyd Displays, explores the theme of Divergence and aims to delve deep into how contemporary photographers are interpreting the climate emergency, rapid digitalisation and the ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence. Exhibitions include the island of Ireland premier of Broken Spectre by Richard Mosse.
Reflecting paradise
Artist Andrew Haslett’s new show, The Land of Mag Mell, is on view June 5-29 at ArtisAnn Gallery in Belfast’s Bloomfield Avenue. Mag Mell is a paradise, either on an Island off the coast of Ireland, or below the Atlantic Ocean. Andrew’s art follows the style of the medieval renaissance, with intensely detailed paintings and drawings taking many months to complete. All artworks are available to buy.
We Built This City on Rock and Coal brings scientists and theatre makers together for a co-created comedy show driven by hopepunk, climate research, music, and what matters most to the local community. It is a show that is fun for audiences, and good for the planet, based on the idea that every individual and their community can be part of a solution to climate change. It’s coming to Rathlin Island on June 17 and Holywood on June 19. More information including show dates and ticket links is available at http://webuiltthiscity.ie/
