Get your ‘thinking cap’ on for Imagine! Belfast Festival of Ideas & Politics

A festival in Belfast is urging visitors to “bring their thinking caps” and enjoy new ways of examining political and cultural issues.

The Imagine Festival of Ideas and Politics will return to the city next month with more than 130 events planned as it marks its 10th anniversary.

Over the past decade, more than 1,050 events have taken place attracting an audience of 193,000 people across the world with approximately 3,000 speakers and performers involved.

It is estimated that during this period the turnover of the festival directly generated an additional £780,000 for the wider economy.

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Regarded as one of Belfast’s “most thought-provoking and innovative festivals”, it encourages discussion and debate on contentious issues through film, humour, talks, music, poetry, theatre, exhibitions, tours, discussions and workshops.

This year’s festival runs from March 18 to 24 at 44 venues across Belfast and will explore the theme, ‘Top EnterBRAINment’.

It will feature keynote artists and speakers exploring political themes, including Paul Muldoon, Don Letts, Manchán Magan, Sarah Corbett, Eamonn Mallie, Nuala McKeever, and Louise Walsh with special performances from the Ulster Orchestra, Yard Act and two productions by the Colorado-based theatre company TINTS.

Other highlights include a series of events examining the relationship between music and politics, particularly punk; a special focus on the transformation of rooftops in the city as potential venues and performances from a family of traditional singers from the Ojibwe reservation in Wisconsin.

Outgoing editor of The Irish News Noel Doran will look back on the past 25 years in the role during the festival, which will also include tours, exhibitions, quizzes, live podcasts and talks from a range of experts exploring the big issues of our time.

Festival director and founder, Peter O’Neill, said: “Over the past 10 years we have developed our festival to encourage dialogue, provoke debate and promote new ways of thinking about our volatile world.

“This year we wish to encourage everyone to bring their ‘thinking caps’ and enjoy new ways of examining political and cultural issues through our eclectic programme of events.”

The week-long festival has over 130 in-person and online events. Most events are free and will take place online and in venues across the city.

Belfast lord mayor Ryan Murphy, said: “With another exciting line-up of events, there’s something for everyone, and it will once again be a thought-provoking vehicle for expression of ideas and discussion.

“From an audience with journalist Eamon Mallie on his years reporting on the conflict in Belfast to a light-hearted evening of conversation and performance with Nuala McKeever and singer-songwriters Anthony Toner and Brigid O’Neill, there is a hugely varied and full programme of events to appeal to all interests.”

The Imagine! Belfast Festival of Ideas and Politics 2024 programme is available via imaginebelfast.com