Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - Press Releases

28 January 2000

Defining Identity

The Community Relations Council today (Friday) launches an exhibition stand to highlight the diversity of identity in Northern Ireland. "Who do you think they are?" is a collection of 48 portrait photographs of living individuals from Northern Ireland, some famous, some not so famous, accompanied by captions which they have written themselves to define their identity.

According to Joanne Murphy, CRC Project Officer for Cultural Diversity:

" In Northern Ireland we often forget just how complex our identity actually is, or how diverse a community we are. Each of us plays many roles, as parents and children, men and women, Protestant, Catholic, Nationalist, Unionist or neither. Some of us are able-bodied, some have a disability, some are gay, straight, old or young. Most of us share many of these identities, yet we sometimes judge and are judged on only one aspect of the identity rather than on the whole."

The collection has been compiled under the Council's Cultural Diversity Programme which seeks to promote understanding and appreciation of, and respect for, cultural diversity in Northern Ireland. The launch will take place at Belfast City Hall at 11.30am and thereafter the exhibition stand will tour public and private spaces in Northern Ireland, including workplaces and libraries. Educational work packs to accompany the exhibition are in preparation. [Click here to view a list of participants]

Sportswoman of the Year, Janet Gray, who features in the collection, will be a key speaker at the launch, which will be introduced by Dr Jonathan Bell, Chair of CRC's Cultural Diversity Committee.

For further information contact:
Joanne Murphy, CRC Project Officer, or
Ray Mullan, CRC Communications Director,
Tel +44 (0)28 90439953 info@community-relations.org.uk