Good Relations Week is from 16 - 22 September - the theme this year is “People Making Change for Peace”. This year Beyond Skin have teamed up with our friends at Libraries NI to host a series of events. Please contact the host library to book a place. For more information about this event, contact Kirsty McClelland: Kirsty.mcclelland@librariesni.org.uk | 028 3844 5588
18th September
WHITEFLAG - Mark Smulian in Creative Conversation
Coleraine Library. 2pm – 3pm
Mark is a multi-instrumentalist: acoustic and electric bass, oud, guitar and keyboard musician, with
over 40 years’ experience in live performance, composition and studio music production.
“I grew up in the UK on rock n roll, moved to the middle east and discovered a whole new musical world and then New York where I discovered Jazz and ‘modern’ improvisation, while studying at a classical music academy (Mannes college of music) .All these elements feed into the way I work with music and allow me to move between genres with comfort and continually explore new ways to work, crossing over between genres and bringing people together through music.” Mark
At this event Mark shares his fascinating story of living in Israel, co-founding the first Israeli Palestinian rock band called WhiteFlag and a Co-founder of Heartbeat – an organization uniting Israeli and Palestinian youth through music. Mark has worked and recorded with musicians at Peter Gabriel’s Realworld studios and was introduced by Peter’s WOMAD Foundation team to the Northern Ireland intercultural peace arts organisation, Beyond Skin – this gave way to the setting up of international #ArtsDialogue collective.
Mark over the past decade has been exploring neuro music science and in 2017 with business partner Stewart Redpath invented the MindHarp application to help people suffering from Dementia.
When you look at Mark’s story – you couldn’t make this up! The event will feature some music performances.
18th September
RIPTON LINDSAY's "GIVE PEACE A DANCE" - Schools Workshop
Carnegie Library Bangor. 10.30am - 11.30am
A dance workshop by choreographer, dancer and peace activist Ripton Lindsay who was born in Jamaica and grew up immersed in Jamaican music and dance. Using the language of dance and music as an educational tool, Ripton’s will engage with young people to demonstrate the power of the arts as an instrument for positive change.
19th September
CARA MONAGHAN & GUESTS - Youth4Peace
Magherafelt Library. 6.30pm - 7.30pm
Cara Monaghan (14yrs) is a musician from Kildress, County Tyrone. Cara has been involved with the Intercultural Peace Arts organisation Beyond Skin since 2017 as a creative youth4peace ambassador performing & collaborating with professional musicians and peace activists around the world. Cara is a very special girl with her story in the World Medical Journal as she against all odds has overcome a very rare heart condition given only weeks life expectancy after her birth. “She really is very special and left here on this earth for a reason. I definitely believe that.” – Caras’ Mother, Jacinta.
Cara will be performing some of her own songs and some familiar songs by people who have inspired her. Cara will also be joined by some special guest artists.
This event has been supported by the EU’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
21st September
HARMONY PEACE DAY EVENT - Claire Louise & Guests
Belfast Central Library. 2.00pm - 3.00pm
A diversity of artists will join musician Claire Louise, harpist, pianist, singer. Derry girl Claire Louise sings in English, Arabic and Hindi. She has been involved many Beyond Skin projects including representing Beyond Skin abroad as a youth4peace Ambassador. Claire Louise performing on the piano & harp will be joined by musicians from India, Greece and the African continent. Claire Louise is a member of Orchestre des Réfugiés et Amis and the international #ArtsDialogue collective. The event is on International Peace Day so the theme and music conversation will reflect this.
16th - 21st September
HEALING THROUGH HARMONIES - Photo Exhibition: The Music Project Sri Lanka.
Dungannon Library. Opening Times
In November 2016, journalist and photographer Joseph O'Connor and radio producer and videographer Paul Loughran travelled to Sri Lanka to document the work of the Music Project.
Founded in 2012 by Shalini Wickramasuriya, the Music Project aims to build orchestral communities between children of the north and south of Sri Lanka. These Tamil and Sinhalese communities were once divided by a long and bitter civil war, which came to an end in 2009.
The project works with over 400 children at six schools teaching primary level students to play orchestral instruments through free after-school music classes. Significantly, the Music Project brings the two communities of children together four or five times a year where both groups, most of whom are divided by language as well as ethnicity and religion, interact and perform in front of an audience. Beyond Skin have been working with The Music Project since 2013. Read more about the project www.beyondskin.net/pv
Over the course of a few days in November 2016, Joseph O'Connor photographed children in Kurunegala and Mullavi as they participated in these classes. The following exhibition comprises a series of 20 images as part of that work. Further work from this multimedia project featured in the Irish Times, InBUSINESS magazine and on Near FM
