With climate change at the forefront of everyone’s mind following the recent shocking U.N. report, organisers of Belfast Culture Night have stated their goal to create an “almost 100% sustainable event” this year.
After 18 months of cancelled events, the people of Northern Ireland can’t wait to get out and enjoy one of the biggest nights of the year: Belfast Culture Night.
Not only will this year’s events bring life back to the city, but they are also set to be “almost 100% sustainable”.
Moves towards sustainability – exciting times for Belfast Culture Night
Belfast Culture Night 2021 is set to take place from 17 to 19 September.
With COP26, the U.N. conference on climate change, approaching this November, sustainable initiatives are at the forefront of everyone’s mind. And Belfast Culture Night is no exception.
Organisers of the annual event have partnered with artist and creative lead Gawain Morrison and his team. Together, they have developed an incredible installation called ‘The Ogham Grove’ in Writer’s Square.
The nature-inspired installation will comprise two sculptures drawing on Celtic themes, taking inspiration from the ancient Celtic Ogham Tree Alphabet.
Ambitious plans – “almost 100% sustainable”
Director of Culture Night Belfast and the Cathedral Quarter Trust Susan Picken revealed the plans for Belfast Culture Night 2021. She also said she hoped this would be one of the most sustainable Culture Nights Belfast has ever seen.
“We have had a commitment to environmental sustainability for a number of years now,” she revealed.
Continuing, she said, “So, when we were developing the brief for CNB 2021, it was really important to us that it reflected the increasingly urgent global focus on environmental sustainability and on the need for more green, natural, and shared spaces in the city.”
Ms Picken highlighted the event’s work alongside Translink to promote the use of public transport. Thus, decreasing the number of cars in the city centre. She went on to explain that this year’s event will place an even greater focus on sustainability.
A sustainable installation – putting the planet first
Speaking on ‘The Ogham Grove’ installation at this year’s Belfast Culture Night, Morrison explained his focus on using sustainable materials.
He said, “What is important to everyone involved in this project is sustainability and making sure that the materials used in this are not just used and thrown away.
“We want to be part of the ‘one more use’ thinking or accessing products that are already part of the process flow.”
He continued, “Using and reusing products was a very important part of our concept and the actual structural delivery of things that people can see.”
What to look out for – an exciting agenda
‘The Ogham Grove’ is only one of the sustainable initiatives to be part of Belfast Culture Night this September.
Before the pandemic, Culture Night had been one of the biggest events in the city’s calendar. Annually, the event attracted over 90,000 people to the city’s streets for an evening of cultural celebration.
This year’s event is set to be scaled back from previous Culture Nights. Thus, Picken revealed that an “almost zero waste” year is “within our sights”.
To keep up to date with this year’s events, go to culturenightbelfast.com.
