A musical bond to span an island

A music venue in West Cork will forge an artistic partnership with a venue in Belfast as part of a new programme fostering cross border cultural relationships on the island of Ireland.

Levis's in Ballydehob and the Duncairn Arts Centre in Belfast will join forces under the new artist's network called The Ties that Bind.

Co-ordinated by Cork County Council in conjunction with Belfast City Council, The Ties that Bind will provide artists with a platform to collaborate and work collectively on new projects through exchange residencies culminating in working sessions and mini festivals.

Part of the Creative Communities on a Shared Island programme, the project also aims tell the story of two corners of the island and how they have successfully harnessed the arts to build respect, inclusion, and positivity.

Open to emerging musicians of all genres, artists from rural county Cork and inner-city Belfast will have the opportunity to participate in artistic residency exchanges, providing valuable opportunities to develop their craft, engage with local networks and organisations, forge new relationships, and create new bodies of work.

Renowned artists Mick Flannery from Cork and Joshua Burnside from Belfast will serve as the participant’s mentors.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank O’Flynn welcomed the programme.

“County Cork has a rich and vibrant cultural and creative sector that contributes enormously to our sense of identity and to the quality of life we all enjoy,” he said.

“Thanks to the support of Creative Ireland, we look forward to exchanging ideas, creativity, and knowledge with our partners in Belfast City Council and to learning from their experience as a UNESCO designated City of Music.

“West Cork and inner-city Belfast have very different communities with a wealth of creative potential in this exchange for the participating artists,” added the County Mayor.

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Valerie O’Sullivan, added: “This collaboration is a unique opportunity for artists from both regions to come together, share talents, and strengthen connections.

“This project epitomises the spirit of the Shared Island Initiative, and we are proud to be a part of it,” she said.

The Government’s Shared Island initiative aims to harness the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement to enhance cooperation, connection and mutual understanding on the island and engage with all communities and traditions to build consensus around a shared future.

The project is scheduled to take place in 2023 and 2024.

All associated opportunities and events will be advertised on Cork County Council’s website at corkcoco.ie. For further more information contact arts@corkcoco.ie.