Council Unveils Belfast Children's Festival Programme

The 18th annual Belfast Children's Festival, organised by Young at Art and supported by the Belfast City Council, will take place from Friday 04 – Wednesday 09 March.

Families are invited to come along, look at, make and talk about the very best art for children and young people aged 0-14 years old in a wide variety of art forms, music, dance, theatre and visual arts from all over the world.

Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Alderman Guy Spence, said that Belfast City Council was proud to support Young at Art's year-round quality work across the city of Belfast, and described the Belfast Children's Festival as "one of the city’s most loved festivals".

He said: "We're all aware of the power of great quality festivals in making a city attractive to its residents and visitors. Belfast has a great selection and 2016 is going to be jam packed with events and at least one festival for every week of the year. But the Belfast Children's Festival is the one which has the biggest ‘family appeal’ and the youngest audiences. It’s often the first experience of culture and arts for young people. So the quality really counts."

Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive, Arts Council Northern Ireland, said: "The Arts Council is delighted to support the 18th annual Belfast Children’s Festival which continues to introduce a generation of children to the very best professional, international and local arts. For many children and families, the Festival is their first experience of live arts, which we know are an important means of improving quality of life for children and young people. This year’s festival includes something for all tastes and budgets and I congratulate Young at Art for yet another impressive programme of events."