British Council is a proud partner in the inaugural UK City of Culture - Derry- Londonderry 2013

The British Council’s involvement allows the development of new work within the creative sector which is hoped will leave a lasting legacy for the city of Derry~Londonderry. The festival will reach a wider international audience and support international partnerships that will continue to benefit artists and arts organisations in future years. We will contribute to the success of 2013 by adding an attractive international dimension that enhances content, as well as providing opportunities for the export of creative components through our global network.

British Council partnership events are highlighted below:

Trees, Walls and Cities, is a contemporary music project which takes as its starting point the powerful historic link between Derry~Londonderry and the City of London and the symbolic significance of their city walls. Trees, Walls and Cities – a specially commissioned song-cycle which links the eight ‘walled’ cities of Derry, London, Utrecht, Berlin, Vienna, Dubrovnik, Nicosia and Jerusalem.

Composer Nigel Osborne and Derry-Londonderry pianist, Cathal Breslin feature in the newly commissioned project. Nigel Osborne’s music frames the cycle and links the chain of cities. The songs reach symbolically across the walls which divide people; the tree featured in each case represents peace, wisdom and life itself.

The British Council has been working in partnership with the City of London Festival towards the development of Trees, Walls and Cities as part of Derry~Londonderry UK City of Culture project and will be supporting an international tour of the piece following the London performance.

These unique gatherings in Dingle, Derry-Londonderry and London will feature exceptional live UK and international music, one-off collaborations and intimate musical conversations, connected together by the spirit of Other Voices, each with its own unique accent and sense of place.

The quality and originality of Northern Ireland music features between 8-10 February 2013 at the Glassworks, Derry~Londonderry and can be viewed also via live stream with performances from Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy), Django Django and Soak among others. See www.othervoices.ie

The London Other Voices Festival is being organised by the Barbican and will take place in Wilton’s Music Hall in the East End.

Teaching Divided Histories is an innovative three year education project which will introduce new approaches to the study of conflict into the school curriculum in Northern Ireland, the Republic and internationally.

British Council will partner with The Nerve Centre, which is leading on the project, to transfer knowledge and expertise between Northern Ireland and other conflict affected societies on how the delivery of education and learning can be developed to promote a shared society. The project is supported by the European Union’s PEACE III Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.

Conference Dates: 1 November 2013 - 30 November 2013.

More information

Unseen is a major exhibition of photographic and video works by Derry born and Turner prize nominated Northern Ireland artist, Willie Doherty.

Unseen exhibition will take place from 1 October 2013 - 31 October 2013. Venue TBC.

More information and ticket information on Unseen.