08/02/2010
A major new online initiative designed to entice thousands of people to ‘test drive’ the best of Northern Ireland’s thriving theatre and performing arts scene was launched in Belfast today.
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Funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council, the new website, www.testdrivetheartsni.org, will for the first time enable anyone in Northern Ireland who has never been to live theatre or performing arts events to get on-the-house tickets to some of the city’s hottest shows, including the Lyric’s The Absence of Women and the Ulster Orchestra’s upcoming James Bond music night at Belfast Waterfront.
The initiative is managed by Audiences NI and has been set up to boost attendance numbers to arts organisations across Northern Ireland. The project is sponsored by fonaCAB.
Under the scheme, prospective audience members can log on to the website to gain access to a range of performances including music, opera, theatre, comedy and dance. Over twenty Belfast arts organisations are taking part, including venues like An Culturlann, Belfast Waterfront, Grand Opera House, Lyric Theatre, Spectrum Centre, Queen’s Film Theatre and the Ulster Hall. Local theatre companies such as Bruiser, Kabosh and Tinderbox are on board, while the Belfast Film Festival, Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and Belfast Children’s Festival are just some of the festivals represented.
Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council, said:
“Building audiences for the arts is a priority for the Arts Council, and Test Drive the Arts NI is the perfect incentive for tentative newcomers. There’s an amazing choice of arts activities on offer out there for all ages and interests and, if they just give it a try, we know people won’t look back.”
The Programme will be rolled out across Northern Ireland from April with venues such as the Alley Theatre in Strabane, Burnavon in Cookstown, Millennium Forum in Derry / Londonderry, Strule Arts Centre in Omagh, and many more coming on board.
Audiences Northern Ireland Chief Executive, Steven Hadley said:
“Northern Ireland has a rich cultural and artistic heritage that is enjoyed by thousands of people every year. Yet many have not experienced the full range of arts experiences on offer. We want to change that. The principle behind testdrivetheartsni.org is simple – it’s about giving would-be arts enthusiasts the chance to ‘test drive’ the arts, whether that’s opera or comedy.
“The new website lists a wide range of shows available. Simply select the performance you are interested in attending and complete the registration form online to request tickets. Tickets will be regularly available on a first-come, first-served basis, so the sooner you go online the better the chance you have of securing the tickets you want.
“There are huge benefits to using the online offering. You can browse the website in your own time and request tickets when it suits. We have teamed up with KDS Systems so whether you have internet access at home or not, free internet kiosks are available at selected locations across Belfast and Northern Ireland.
“There are few places in the world that offer the diversity and quality of performances that are readily available right here in Belfast and we hope that after experiencing a live performance you will want to come back time and time again!”
Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Naomi Long said:
“We’re passionate about Belfast’s arts and culture – and want to make sure that as many people as possible get to experience and participate in our city’s fantastic cultural events and experiences. That’s why we’ve supported Audiences NI to launch this innovative new campaign which helps to make cultural activity more accessible than ever before.”
Please see www.testdrivetheartsni.org for more information and details of participating venues.
