New Chapter For City Centre Shops

A number of properties in and around the city centre have been decorated with banners and displays containing quotes from some of Belfast's leading authors and poets.

Authors such as Glenn Patterson and Robert McLiam Wilson and poets like Michael Longley and Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney are among those whose work is featured on the banners, which are in shop windows and on office frontages.

Embracing new technology to its full extent, each banner contains a QR code which, when scanned into an iPhone, leads to a new Literary Belfast app, featuring video guides to the city and its literature, and the work of the authors featured in the initiative, as well as many others.

"Literature is a shop window for a city, as people often find out about, and explore, a place through its literature and its writers," commented Alderman Christopher Stalford, Chairman of Belfast City Council's Development Committee.

"Just as authors and poets explore the landscape around them through words, readers in turn use those words to explore and experience the sights and sounds that influenced those writers. With literary tourism contributing up to £2.6 billion a year to the British economy, it is important that we showcase our literary talent – and what better way to do it than by providing it with a literal shop window," he added.

The 'shop window' initiative was delivered on the counci's behalf by Arts & Business NI, who have established strong partnerships with Belfast City Centre Management, city centre landlords, property owners and local businesses to identify potential sites across the city.

"Embracing arts and culture can deliver for business and change the face of a city," said Beverly Coomber, Business Development Manager with Arts and Business.

"The vision shown by the Deramore Property Group, Dunnes Stores and Turnus Ltd has made this project a reality.

"The support from these forward-thinking businesses has been essential in realizing this project. I hope the vibrancy, impact and interest generated by these literary banners will not only inspire other landlords and building owners to use the arts to revitalize other spaces, but also encourage everyone to enjoy Belfast`s literary history," added Beverly.

The 'shop window' initiative forms part of an integrated and cohesive campaign, 'Literary Belfast', aimed at highlighting the city's literary heritage, which will be officially launched at a gala evening on the Ulster Hall, on Tuesday 6 September.

In addition to the new iPhone app, a number of other products have been developed to help people explore Belfast's literary landscape including the Belfast Poets and Writers Exhibition and the opening of the BBC Literary Archive, at the City Hall and new and enhanced literary tours and trails as well as a revamped C S Lewis exhibition, which will take place at both the Belmont Tower and the Linenhall Library and a new website, www.LiteraryBelfast.org

All of these are complemented by the annual Belfast Book Festival, supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, as well as other events.

The new initiatives have been funded by Belfast City Council and part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland and administered by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

The Literary Belfast 'shop window' sites are located in Wellington Place, Upper Queen Street, and Castle Lane, the former Priceless Shoes premises in Cornmarket and at the Saint Anne's Square car park.

(GK/BMcC)