Top EnterBRAINment: Imagine! Festival Lands In The Linen Quarter

The Imagine! Festival of Politics and Ideas launched their 10th anniversary program last week at the Panoramic Suite of the Grand Central Hotel.

Linen Quarter BID are continuing our long standing support for the festival, by sponsoring the launch as well as funding and co-creating 5 mind expanding events which will take place in the district over the course of the festival week, 18th-24th March.

Some of the events below are free to the public, but all have a reserved number of spaces of employees of LQ BID members. Email stephen@linenquarter.org for guestlist (while stocks last).

Climate Improvement Districts

Tuesday 19th March, 12-1.30pm

Andrew Haley, Director of The Paul Hogarth Company, will highlight some examples of best practice for climate improvement measures in the urban environment, drawing on projects which they have delivered both locally and internationally. He will then suggest measures which Belfast should adopt going forward.

The Maldron Hotel will share their own sustainability initiatives including honey harvested from their rooftop beehive. And the event will conclude with a short walking tour of urban ecology projects in the district.

Try Some Tea & Honey, Produced By Bees In The Linen Quarter. Email stephen@linenquarter.org

Empowering Women in Public Spaces

Wednesday 20th March, 5-7pm, Pug Ugly’s

Belfast is transitioning from a retail-led offer to a more multi-purpose city centre that embraces the night-time economy. While this is welcome, it is not without its gendered impacts.

Join us and female leaders from across the city, to discuss how we can empower women in public spaces during this transition.

Panellists include the Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Aine Groogan, PSNI Superintendent Finola Dornan, Womens Sector Lobbyist Elaine Crory. Chaired by Journalist Alison Morris.

Free Drinks & Nibbles During This Empowering Panel Discussion. Email Stephen@linenquarter.org

Louise Walsh in Conversation with Amanda Ferguson

Thursday 21st March, 12-1.30pm, Europa Hotel

We are delighted to bring the sculptor behind one of the Linen Quarters most iconic monuments back to Great Victoria Street.

Louise Walsh will share stories from her life and career, including her famous Monument to the Unknown Woman Worker outside Great Northern Mall which sparked controversy in Belfast City Council in 1989.

The conversation with leading local journalist Amanda Ferguson will be one of the first to take place in the Europa’s recently refurbished Dublin Suite, will be followed by a group photo at the monument which attendees are welcome to join.

Iconic ‘Unknown Working Womens Statue’ Sculptor Returns To Belfast. Email Stephen@linenquarter.org

Slugger O’Tool Live: Looming Elections & Political Futures

Friday 22nd March, 5-7pm, Europa Hotel

With General Elections in the UK and Ireland as well as European elections and the US Presidential poll due in the next 12 months, we invite you to assess with us the current state and future direction of politics.

The discussion will be led by University of Liverpool’s Professor Jon Tonge, deputy director from political consultancy Stratagem, Anna Mercer, and the Belfast Telegraph’s Sam McBride. A limited bar tab will be provided courtesy of LQ BID.

Pints & Politics: Trading Linen Looms For Looming Elections. Email Stephen@linenquarter.org

Don Letts: In Conversation With Stuart Bailie

Sunday 24th March, 3-6pm, The Limelight (Followed by Enola Gay!)

Grammy Award winning musician & film maker, Don Letts, came to notoriety in the late 70’s as the DJ that single handily turned a whole generation of punks onto reggae. Join music jounalist Stuart Bailie in conversation with Don who will then take to the decks for a DJ Set.

Attendees who register with LQ BID will also get free access to a not-to-be missed evening of raucous guitar mayhem which includes performances by Antrim based YINGYANG, Dublin’s Gurriers and Belfast based punk 4-piece Enola Gay. A fitting event given the Linen Quarters Punk Heritage!

Special Event With Legendary Donn Letts & Punk 4 piece Elona Gay. Email Stephen@linenquarter.org

LQ BID members who wish to express interest in attending any of the above events for free should email stephen@linenquarter.org from their organistional email address. Members of the public can book tickets and view the full program of 130+ events at  Imagine Belfast.