The city is currently enjoying a four month programme highlighting the very best of the arts, food and drink, visual arts and film, music, poetry, photography and learning about business, education and tourism.
Arts and Culture Minister, Edwin Poots, MLA said: “We have received a wonderful response from the business community and as a result have achieved an outstanding level of corporate support from 26 of Northern Ireland’s top businesses. The total now stands at over £350,000, far exceeding the target set."
Two lead sponsors have been secured for the programme, Titanic Quarter, which is being co-promoted by the Port of Belfast, and the Ulster Bank and six business sector champions have also committed their support: including BT; Resource; Diageo; Grafton ESP; Glen Dimplex Group; and Norbrook. In addition, a number of other companies have pledged significant additional sponsorship and in-kind support to the programme ranging from shipping to printing.
Mr Poots continued: “The Rediscover Northern Ireland programme is a series of over 40 arts and culture events in Washington. The Northern Ireland business community has grasped the opportunity to promote Northern Ireland to the US audience and have made this exciting programme a success.
“This has been a great time for Northern Ireland and confidence is growing about our future. The partnership of business and the arts is a winning formula and reflects a proud region looking towards the future and towards America.”
The Rediscover Northern Ireland's Leadership Group, co-chaired by Nigel Hamilton, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service and Alan Gillespie, Chairman of Ulster Bank, was tasked with gaining the sponsorship from the corporate sector.
Dr Alan Gillespie, said: ”The response from the business sector in Northern Ireland has been both significant, in financial terms, and inspirational in its enthusiasm. Clearly the business community have responded to the opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland as a place to visit, work, study and most importantly, as a place to do business.”
Mike Smith, Chief Executive of Titanic Quarter Ltd said: “Titanic Quarter and its co-promoters, the Port of Belfast, are delighted to be sponsoring the ‘Titanic in Belfast’ exhibition in Union Station, Washington DC from 26 June to 15 July, as part of the Rediscover Northern Ireland programme.
“We believe the Union Station exhibition will allow us to profile Titanic Quarter as Europe’s largest waterfront development and an internationally recognised commercial and mixed use development. The programme will show Northern Ireland as a region with tremendous investment potential and as a place to broker international business opportunities.”
Len O’Hagan, Chairman of Port of Belfast, said: “The Titanic was the defining symbol of her era – a pinnacle of achievement in the Edwardian age. That is our benchmark for Titanic Quarter and our vision for a 21st Century Belfast. Titanic Quarter affords Belfast and Northern Ireland a huge opportunity as a major gateway project - the Union Station exhibition is the ideal opportunity to convey those ambitions to a US audience.”
The Rediscover Northern programme is led by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The programme is co-sponsored by Titanic Quarter Ltd and the Ulster Bank.
Notes to Editors:
All media enquiries to Joanne Eland at DCAL Press Office on 028 90 254215 or email: press.office@dcalni.gov.uk
