ArtsEkta, Northern Ireland’s award-winning intercultural arts organisation, is proud to announce the launch of the Belfast PEACEPLUS Shared Roots programme, a transformative new initiative celebrating Belfast’s diverse communities through storytelling, shared heritage, and cultural innovation. This project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)

Co-designed under Belfast City Council’s PEACEPLUS Local Community Action Plan and supported with investment of £234,200, Shared Roots brings together communities from across Belfast to engage in a dynamic calendar of events that promote reconciliation, inclusivity, and heritage preservation.

Over the next three years, ArtsEkta and partners Cairde na Cille and Kabosh Theatre Company will deliver immersive theatre experiences, heritage tours, and site-based events in iconic yet under-utilised historic locations.

Highlights of the programme include:

• ‘Civic Voices’ Theatre Programme – Led by Kabosh Theatre Company, this initiative co-creates original outdoor performances with five community groups, exploring themes of identity, migration, and resilience.

• ‘Discovering Our Roots’ Tour Series – tours uncovering the hidden histories of Belfast’s built environment, led by trained guides from diverse backgrounds.

• ‘Faith in Focus’ City Trail – An immersive city-wide trail developed with local faith communities and youth, launched during the Belfast Mela festival.

• ‘Shared Spaces, Shared Stories’ Heritage Events – cultural events hosted at landmark buildings, such as Riddel’s Warehouse, The Floral Hall and Carlisle Memorial Church, to bring fresh life to Belfast’s architectural gems.

• ‘Rituals of Remembrance’ Burial Traditions Programme – A unique exploration of ancient burial grounds led by Cairde na Cille through storytelling, music, and visual art that fosters intergenerational connection.

“At a time when we must actively foster understanding and unity, the Shared Roots programme stands as a beacon of cultural collaboration,” said Nisha Tandon OBE, CEO of ArtsEkta. “By engaging communities in the rediscovery of Belfast’s rich and diverse heritage, we aim to create inclusive spaces that honour the past while shaping a shared future. This co-designed project represents a significant step forward in using the arts and heritage to deepen cross-community relationships and reimagine Belfast’s identity through an inclusive, creative lens.

“Utilising the best of local theatre talent to support our citizens in animating their areas with unheard stories is the lifeblood of Kabosh, said Paula McFetridge, Artistic Director. Through this multi-partner project we will maximise engagement and ensure a legacy of enhanced creative skills across the city”.

“Cairde na Cille is delighted to be part of this exciting project where we will be showcasing overlooked aspects of Belfast City’s ancient cultural heritage and creating a respectful space for inter-cultural activities linked to shared burial traditions”, added Deirdre Nic an tSionnaigh, Creative Director, Cairde na Cille.

The free programme which launches this June with a special tours event series, will engage over 1,800 participants across the city, with a focus on hard-to-reach and minority ethnic communities.

For more information on Belfast PEACEPLUS, visit Belfast City Council’s website at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/peaceplus or SEUPB at https://www.seupb.eu/peaceplus

Photo caption: (L to R) Artist Nandi Jola, Dr. Nisha Tandon OBE (ArtsEkta), Dr. Deirdre Fox (Cairde na Cille), Councillor Ian McLaughlin (Belfast City Council), Artist Sue Bamford and Ronan McManus (Kabosh) pictured at the launch of the PEACEPLUS Shared Roots Programme outside the Old Museum Building.