The 'Motion' Project originated from a Beyond Skin CD project in 2006 'music from a diverse city' and during the subsequent years became Northern Ireland's largest multi-cultural music collective. The Motion Project since 2006 have toured around Northern Ireland providing unique world music interactive experiences, programs and performances.

The Motion Project set out to address racism, sectarianism in Northern Ireland using music as a methodology to show people how our individuality can produce something far more attractive and unique when we work together. The Motion Project also provided people with the opportunity to expand their cultural & global development knowledge; a chance to hear, play and learn about music from around the world and the chance to meet others from different cultural backgrounds.

A development of the workshops was the iME (Interactive Music Experience), the Motion project's very own style of improvised performances & workshops allowing for unique creative learning in the moment of inspiration and participation.

By 2012 the Motion Project's seperate indentity started to become more and more integrated into Beyond Skin's overall framework. (this was to avoid confusion that the Motion Project and Beyond Skin were two seperate organisations). New programmes and initiatives including World Music NI; and an Investment by the Arts Council Northern Ireland in 2012 enabled a new version 2.0 of the iME. www.beyondskin.net/wmiep.php

Although the ever expanding group now mostly come under the Beyond Skin brand, musicians own names and various project formats, the Motion Project name will always be recognised within Beyond Skin cicles and with those who have experienced and worked with the group. Future Beyond Skin world music educational projects and initatives will represent a legacy of the Motion Project as will the various world music bands and projects formed through the Motion Project network. The Motion Project through Beyond Skin will still continue to grow, evolve and develop innovative projects, inspiring others, breaking down cultural barriers and creating great music!

As for the iME format, many attempts have been made worldwide by other groups and organisations to replicate the format but 'a magic formula' within the Motion Project.group that none of us can explain provides the energetic element that makes the Motion Project iME so unique.

From 2006 -2011 the Motion Project facilitated and performed at over 700 events and to date has had representation of over 50 nationalities.

View The Archive Photo Gallery

www.beyondskin.net . www.worldmusicni.com

"I have chanced to come across the most amazing people, not just musically, but in their spirit to embrace the human race, an inspiring, compassionate family of individuals who have assisted the process of peace in our land." (Darren Ferguson - Beyond Skin)