Artsawonder

Kinship of Difference :: Irish Linen Centre, Lisburn
2024-10-18 19:30 - 22:30 UTC | Irish Linen Centre, Market Square, Lisburn, Down, BT28 1AG, United Kingdom
The Lisburn Linen Museum will be the venue for Kinship of Difference, a special evening
celebrating the history and future relevance of the linen industry, produced by
ARTSAWONDER in association with THE RESURGAM TRUST and hosted by Tommy Sands.
This unique event, recorded for NTV’s Northern Visions, will bring together a gathering of
people from all aspects of linen-making—from flax pullers to weavers, artists to
academics—who will share conversations and songs about how this ancient industry has
shaped communities in the past and how it may still play a vital role in the future.
Attendees will learn why linen has been considered precious since biblical times and hear
how it has both set people apart and brought them together again. One special guest will
share the family’s extraordinary journey—expelled from France for being Protestant and
later from Dromore for being Roman Catholic—reflecting on where this history of faith,
work, and nostalgia has led them today.
The event will delve into the importance of linen in Ireland’s history, especially in Lisburn
and Ravensdale, as well as the present-day value of flax, known as ‘the blue gold’ in France.
Discussions will cover the engagement of different communities with the linen trade, the
realities of hard work and low pay, and how linen-related words have made their way into
our everyday language. The environmental relevance of linen in today’s world will also be
explored.
Among Tommy’s guests, associated with the Linen Making World will be:
Brona McVittie, (Harpist and composer)
Ciaran Mussen, (Mill heritage and singer)
Norma Coulter from Men’s and Hen’s Shed, (her family were all in the Mill, she was
encouraged not to work in it!!)
Norman Dalzell from HAG (Heritage Advisory Group) linked to Hilden Mill
Don Johnstone, (Linen Historian),
Staff Members from The Irish Linen Centre Lisburn Museum.

Annual Music of Healing Concert
2024-07-25 19:30 - 22:30 | An Cuan, 44 Shore Road, Rostrevor, BT34 3ET, United Kingdom
The annual Music of Healing concert will take place as usual on the Thursday evening as part of the International Fiddlers Green Festival in 2024.
“The music of healing”, which now also has a prelude event happening earlier in the day, takes its inspiration and title from a song of that name, written by Tommy Sands, and the late Pete Seeger. It has been at the heart of Fiddlers Green for 30 years and is always one of the highlights of the Festival.
Tommy, in the company of singers and musicians, welcomes guests, often with very diverse political or religious views to pursue a higher quality of disagreement, in the furthering of better understanding and reconciliation. This special event, born at a time when it was often unsafe to publicise the names of invited guests, has continued with the tradition of privacy, so we all look forward to finding out who will be here.
Rumours might suggest that one of the best-known icons associated with change in our Northern/North of Ireland world may be in attendance but the definite clue is… it will be night to remember.
The Creative Arts Award was established at the turning of the century and acknowledges noted achievements in the field of arts, literacy and culture, all of which are an integral part of the Fiddlers Green festival. The coveted trophy was crafted by leading Irish sculptor Carolyn Mulholland and was first awarded to the late Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney in the year 2000.
This year of 2024, our very special recipient is Linda Ervine MBE, Manager of Turas, an Irish Language project in East Belfast and co-founder of Scoil na Seolta, an integrated, Irish-medium primary and nursery school.
Often in the past our cultural traditions and languages have become blockages between our Communities. Linda’s research and life’s work, however, would suggest that our indigenous language can provide the building blocks for a shared future, not only within this island but, between these islands.
We will speak to Linda about her life’s journey towards these conclusions and perhaps get a song from her talented husband, playwright and former head of the Progressive Unionist Party, Mr Brian Ervine.

Annual Music and Healing Seminar
2024-07-25 14:30 - 17:30 | An Cuan, 44 Shore Road, Rostrevor, BT34 3ET, United Kingdom
As a prelude to the annual Music of Healing concert on the evening of 25th July 2024, we will hold our annual Music and Healing Seminar from 2.30-5.30pm at An Cuan as part of the International Fiddlers Green Festival.
While music can directly affect a collective that can lead to a more cooperative stance between opposing groups, it also affects individuals in such a way as to develop those qualities that would permit more meaningful participation in conflict resolution. More specifically, empiric scholarly research has demonstrated that early training in synchronized music making enhances the development of empathy, prosocial behavior, and cognitive skills necessary in social healing when compared with children without such training. This year’s public seminar will examine these topics in more depth.
This year speakers/performers include: Dr Lisa Wong, Mike Hanrahan, Dr Bruce Victor, Bróna McVittie and Tommy Sands

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