Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - News

22 March 2010

Ballymena Inter Ethnic Forum is hosting an International Food and Music Festival ‘A Taste of the World’ at the Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena on March 27th, 2010 from 5pm to 8pm.

Admission is free and includes an opportunity to taste a variety of foods from around the world. The event will also feature a musical performance by The Motion Project, a Belfast-based multicultural music and arts group as well as a touring exhibition.

This event, which is organised in conjunction with the Mid-Antrim Museums Service, is part of the Cultural Connections project and is funded under the European Union's PEACE III programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the North East PEACE III Partnership.

The event is also supported through Ballymena Borough Council’s Good relations Unit and the Racial Equality & Community Relations Unit, OFMDFM, Ballymena Arts Festival and Community Relations Council.

On offer will be culinary delights from around the world namely, Spain, India, China, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Japan, France and Northern Ireland. In addition to the delicious array of cuisines, the Cultural Connections touring exhibition, You Say Potato, I Say Wapato will also be on display for all to enjoy. This exhibition traces the history of one of Ireland’s most famous foods, the potato, from its origins in South America to the present day.

Ivy Ridge from Ballymena Inter Ethnic Forum said ‘this is a wonderful opportunity for people from all communities to get to know each other, eat a variety of food they may never have tried before and listen to a fascinating mix of music from some of Northern Ireland’s most talented musicians. We hope to see people of all ages, especially children, who will love the music best of all!”

Musicians within Northern Ireland's largest multicultural music collective, 'the Motion Project', will be giving people a taste of world music with performances from musicians representing India, Uganda, Poland, China, Ireland and Zimbabwe. The day will also include special ‘fusion’ performances. The event will be recorded for Homely Planet radio for a later broadcast.

Dominique Bouchard, Access Officer for the Mid-Antrim Museums Service, said, “It’s a unique opportunity for people in Ballymena to experience something different and special. It’s going to be a fantastic celebration of culture and we’re looking forward to getting the whole Ballymena community involved.”

For more details on event please contact Ballymena Inter Ethnic Forum on 028 2564 8822