Northern Ireland has a population of 1.74 million, spread over six of the counties
of the old Irish province of Ulster –
Fermanagh, Armagh, Tyrone, Londonderry, Antrim and Down.
While the most common language used in Northern Ireland is English,
many people write and speak the ancient Celtic language of the island,
Irish, and Ulster-Scots, a variant of the Scots language.
The impact the arts and artists from Northern Ireland have made
on the world stage far exceeds what might be expected from a small
ocountry with a small population.
Well-established artists like rock legend Van Morrison,
movie star Liam Neeson,pianist Barry Douglas, poet Seamus Heaney
and new media artist Willie Doherty,have helped to draw the attention of the world
to the creative resources Northern Ireland can draw on.
With a long history of conflict behind us, a new generation of artists
with new vision and ambition is emerging from Northern Ireland.
They are the current standard bearers of the excellence and diversity
of arts practice that takes place throughout Northern Ireland.
The visual artists currently taking advantage of increased opportunities
for international exposure at showcase exhibitions, such as the Venice Biennale,
show that the arts of Northern Ireland make an artistically and culturally distinctive
contribution and are capable of standing alongside the best in the world.
Their work is making an important contribution to elevating Northern Ireland’s
growing status as a highly creative modern European region.
Click here for more information about the arts from Northern Ireland.
