The Radcliffe Trust funded a performance and workshop, for the Belfast Festival T/A Belfast International Arts Festival, led by the celebrated Irish traditional artist Martin Hayes, this included the provision of free tickets for community participants to the performance in the Grand Opera House in February 2023.
The performance featured Hayes headlining The Common Ground Ensemble, a group with its roots in traditional Irish music.
The community workshop, engaged 20 young participants, taking part in a partnership with Belfast TradFest who benefitted from many community links and cross-promotional opportunities.
More than 900 people attended the Martin Hayes performance in Belfast’s iconic Grand Opera House.
20 beneficiaries attended the Masterclass, with 75% being under 25 yrs of age.
60% were from the from Greater Belfast area of whom:
50% from areas which feature in Top 20 Most Deprived SOA (Super Output Areas) (NISRA, 2017)
One beneficiary stated:- “Getting a ticket to this Martin Hayes workshop was like winning the lottery. To spend 90 minutes listening to a legend describing his craft and providing demonstrations on the fiddle was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”