Belfast International Arts Festival
belfast international art festival formerly known belfast festival queen’s claim city’s longest running international art event originally established hosted queen’s university new independent organisation company limited guarantee registered charity formed event cover theatre dance classical root music visual film digital art literature accompanied outreach education event take place every october venue location across belfast held annually usually octobernovember festival founded student michael emmerson emmerson succeeded director michael barnes small beginning festival grew expanding twoweeklong event performer time included jimi hendrix richard stilgoe laurence olivier rowan atkinson billy connolly festival held several venue across city including mac ulster hall naughton gallery queen film theatre brian friel theatre whitla hall queen well grand opera house waterfront hall chultúrlann art centre january sufficient funding place ensure festival would go ahead university launched save belfast festival campaign encouraging people petition maria eagle mp minister responsible cultural activity northern ireland campaign received support belfast telegraph celebrity including patrick kielty february minister announced £ oneoff payment belfast festival queen although campaign raise fund continued throughout year university subsequently announced festival would go ahead albeit reduced scale work still required secure longterm future funding came end ulster bank announced withdrawal funding muchdiminished festival belfast film festival brian friel theatre cathedral quarter art festival féile phobail queen film theatre official website save belfast festival