Belfast 2024: New cultural programme hailed as a 'game-changer'

Councillor Long, from the Alliance Party, described the plans as a potential game changer

A former lord mayor of Belfast hopes a series of new cultural events can help revitalise the city.

Michael Long said a new programme, Belfast 2024, can boost tourism and increase footfall.

The city centre suffered as result of lockdown during the Covid pandemic and a large fire at the Primark store in 2018.

Mr Long is concerned that there is not enough public awareness around the cultural celebrations.

A free-to-attend culture night was held in Belfast until 2021

The council is billing the Belfast 2024 events as the city's "biggest ever creative and cultural celebration".

Mr Long, a councillor from the Alliance Party, described the plans as a potential "game-changer".

When the initiative was launched in October, the council said £5.9m was going to be invested in a programme of events, and those being developed included:

• an immersive experience at Thompson Dry Dock

• public art, inspired by nature

• a partnership event with the Eden Project

• music events

The programme is due to run from March to November 2024.

Michael Long, a former Lord Mayor of Belfast, said cultural events are important to the city

Mr Long believes the events should attract people from areas surrounding Belfast as well as visitors from abroad.

"Many people don't know about it and if we don't get the word out quickly people will have other plans made for the year upcoming, and they won't be able to attend as many events as maybe we would hope," he said.

A large financial contribution from Belfast City Council has been made, he added.

"One of the main reasons (for the contribution) is to try to ensure that our city centre is more vibrant, more welcoming, attracts more tourists," he said.

A Belfast City Council spokesperson said that 24 major projects are planned as part of the "unique" investment into the city's cultural sector, which will "support jobs, attract visitors and encourage community participation in the arts".

A total of 17 projects have been commissioned and details of the remaining seven are being finalised.

More information can be found on the Belfast 2024 programme website.