Other News In Brief

Council Buildings To Light Up Blue For World Autism Awareness Day

Two council buildings in County Antrim are set to light up blue next Tuesday, 02 April, to mark World Autism Awareness Day.

The Braid in Ballymena and the Smiley Buildings in Larne will be among thousands of iconic landmarks across the world that are coming together to support the event.

In Northern Ireland, one in 34 children are diagnosed with the spectrum disorder, a lifelong disability which affects the social and communication centre of the brain. It affects the way an individual relates to people, situations and the immediate environment.

Many individuals with autism have difficulty processing everyday sensory information like sight, smells, touch, tastes and sounds. World Autism Awareness Day aims to increase public awareness about those, especially children, with autism.

Chairperson of Autism NI Ballymena Support Group, Stephanie O"Neill, said: "We are delighted that Mid and East Antrim Borough Council are once again supporting Autism Awareness by lighting up the Braid and Smiley buildings for World Autism Awareness Day on 02 April.

"The Autism NI Ballymena Support Group has been running for over 11 years and meet on the first Monday of every month in All Saints Parish Centre. All parents and carers of those both pre and post diagnosis of Autism are welcome."

Cher Announces Belfast Concert Date

Legendary pop diva Cher has announced a tour date for Belfast, her first show in the city in over 15 years.

The award winning artist added the show, on Sunday 03 November, to her Here We Go Again World tour. The 72-year-old is already scheduled to perform at Dublin's 3 Arena on 01 November.

Tickets will go on sale next Friday, 05 April at 9am.

Arts Council Hosts Creative Careers Event To Inspire Future Workforce

An event aiming to inspire young people to take up a career in the creative industries took place at the Lyric Theatre Belfast, hosted by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and supported by the Department for Communities.

The event gave over 200 school children, careers advisors and further education students the opportunity to hear from professionals working in theatre, music, fashion & design, animation and digital technology.

Musicians Ryan Vail, Kwame Daniels and fashion designer Hannah Vail gave an insight into their education and what it's like to work in the creative industries. The young delegates got to see an excerpt from The 39 Steps currently running at the Lyric Theatre and also had a chance to hear from Executive Producer Jimmy Fay and his team members: former creative industries apprentice and now Theatre Producer, Bronagh McFeely and Head of Creative Learning, Philip Crawford, who discussed the many backstage roles it takes to put on a theatre production. 

Digital artists, such as animator Joel Simon and virtual reality and technology specialists Brian Shaw from Makematic and Rory Clifford from Retinize also helped the panel to bring a career in the arts alive for the young delegates in the audience. 



(JG/CM)