New UU record label in callout for submissions

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Musicians with a link to Ulster University have been invited to submit their music to a new record label, with a debut release due this autumn.

Outworker Recordings will showcase original music created by students past and present and staff of the university, which has 200,000 alumni in 148 countries worldwide, 25,000 current students and 2,500 employees.

Inspired by Derry’s rich heritage of textile making ‘Outworker’ was a name given to people throughout the region who, in the 19th and early 20th century, made shirts in their own homes to help the thriving Derry shirt factories meet escalating demand. These Outworkers were the remote workers of their time.

Leah Bell, 3rd year Music student from Cookstown said: “As a young composer of music which doesn’t fall into the pop category, it’s really refreshing that my university is providing musicians with this opportunity to experiment and to showcase their music. I am excited to get involved. I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes.”

Dr Rob Casey, Lecturer in Music, at the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Ulster University’s Magee campus said: “We are delighted to launch Outworker Recordings. We want to help build an edgy innovative music scene and to support musicians to be inventive, to push boundaries. We are excited about the contribution this new music label will make to musicians lives and the rich creative life of Northern Ireland today.”

To be part of the first release that will launch the label, composers and musicians can submit a high-quality recording for consideration before 5pm on Friday 16 July. Find out more here.

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Independent Derry’s pick of outdoor dining spots

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Ready for an al fresco meal or some drinks in a sun-soaked beer garden this summer? Local business platform Independent Derry has compiled this handy list of their favourite bars and eateries with outdoor spaces. Cheers to that!

https://www.independentderry.co.uk/post/derryoutdoordining

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NEW VISITOR PASS ENCOURAGES VISITORS TO EXPLORE THE WALLED CITY OF DERRY THIS SUMMER

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Unlocking the stories and secrets of the Walled City of Derry is about to get easier with the launch of the new Visit Derry Pass. This integrated ticket will help visitors plan a break in Derry-Londonderry and enjoy access to multiple experiences within the compact walkable city. The Visit Derry Pass provides discounted entry to ten of the most-loved attractions and activities across the city. 

The digital pass already operates in destinations including York, Edinburgh, Manchester and Glasgow and Visit Derry is delighted to the launch the first of its kind in Northern Ireland. The pass gives ticket holders access to iconic sites including The Guildhall, Tower Museum, Siege Museum and The Museum of Free Derry; tours of the City’s cathedrals and churches; and access to several guided tour options that take in the bustle of the city.

The launch of the Visit Derry Pass comes hot on the heels of the reopening of the tourism sector in Northern Ireland, with staycations expected to surge in popularity this summer. As an integral part of the city’s recovery strategy, Visit Derry recognised the opportunity to create a unified sightseeing pass which provides great value for money and brings together some of the City’s most-loved tourist sites, encouraging visitors to stay longer and explore more. The Visit Derry Pass is developed by Derry City and Strabane District Council in partnership with Visit Derry and part funded by Tourism Northern Ireland. It is priced from £25 per adult (1-day ticket) and £30 (2-day ticket). Passes can be bought online at www.visitderry.com/pass or in person at the Visitor Information Centre. The pass can be downloaded onto a smartphone or device making it even more convenient for visitors to use and pre-book before arrival.

Alderman Graham Warke, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council pictured at the launch of the new Visit Derry Pass with Odhran Dunne, Visit Derry CEO and staff from some of the attractions participating in the scheme. Visitors and locals alike can now enhance their experience of the city through a new innovative digital visitor pass developed by Derry City and Strabane District Council in partnership with Visit Derry and part funded by Tourism Northern Ireland. The Visit Derry Pass is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland and will provide discounted entry to ten of the most-loved attractions and activities across the city
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Derry needs your vote at prestigious travel ‘Oscars’

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Derry-Londonderry has made the shortlist for Europe’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination 2021 at The World Travel Awards.

The Walled City is one of eight emerging city destinations in with a chance of scooping the prize at the awards, nicknamed the ‘Oscars of Travel’.

Renowned as one of the finest examples of a Walled City in Europe and the primary destination for cultural and heritage experiences on the island, Derry is a worthy nominee and needs your votes to help scoop the top spot.

With international voting now open, people have been urged to get behind Derry.

Odhran Dunne, Chief Executive of Visit Derry commented: “We are delighted Derry has been nominated for Europe’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination. Being a finalist in this prestigious award, puts us on a world stage as we begin to emerge from the covid crises and rebuild tourism. It strengthens our international appeal and rewards the commitment of all players in our local industry to position the city region as a must-visit destination. We have all the ingredients of a standout destination, centred on our historic City Walls, heritage, renowned lively cultural and events scene and strategic geographic location to be nominated for the award is fantastic. We look forward to the global industry and travel consumers recognising our emerging potential and giving us their vote!” You can cast your vote for the Maiden City as Leading Emerging Tourism Destination here. Voting closes on 14th July 2021.

Could the Walled City of Derry be the leading emerging tourism destination in Europe? Derry has made the shortlist at the prestigious World Travel Awards for Europe’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination 2021. The winner will be the finalist who gains the most votes. To vote for Derry as Europe’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination, visit www.visitderry.com/vote before 14th July. First to cast their vote is the Mayor Alderman Graham Warke with Visit Derry chair Michelle Simpson and Chief Executive Odhran Dunne. Supporting the voting are, Brenda Morgan, City of Derry Airport, Ethan Dunlop, City Cabs, Lawrence, Far and Wild, Carla McDevitt, Airporter, Kiera Duddy, The Pickled Duck, Bronagh Masoliber, Visit Derry. David Douglas, Derrie Danders and James Huey, Walled City Brewery, and
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Art project turns Derry and Strabane Inside Out

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An internationally recognised ‘people’s art project’ celebrating local communities is being held in Derry and Strabane.

The Inside Out Project displays large-scale black and white portraits of local people in public spaces, turning their untold stories into works of art.

More than 260,000 people have participated in the scheme in 129 countries, exploring themes including hope, diversity, gender-based violence and climate change.

The project is being delivered by UV Arts C.I.C and Derry City and Strabane District Council with the final installations located at Ebrington Square, Strabane Alley Theatre and the Queens Quay walkway.

Karl Porter, Director of UV Arts CIC, explains: “The project is about celebrating our local community and mostly those who make the community what it is. This is an opportunity to build cohesion, build community pride and to really love where you live as sometimes we can take the natural beauty of our locations for granted.

“This is a chance for the local people to send us their photographs/selfies and images that will be included in our large-scale printed posters that will then be pasted or glued onto various walls across our city and district.

“It’s such an engaging activity that anyone can get involved with, a fresh celebration of the people most important to us in our community and city.” 

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Hume family gift peace prizes to people of Derry

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John Hume’s family have announced their intention to donate his Nobel Peace Prize, Martin Luther King Jnr Nonviolent Peace Prize and Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize to the people of Derry. The politician, who passed away in August 2020, was the only person in history to be awarded all three peace prizes in 1998, 1999 and 2002 respectively.

His widow, Pat Hume, said: “Although John built alliances for peaceful change in Ireland, at Westminster, in Brussels and in Washington DC, he always remained rooted in Derry. We believe it is right for the people of Derry to have the opportunity to share these peace awards.

“It is our intention to give the peace prizes to the Derry and Strabane Council to be exhibited in a public place.”

Mayor Brian Tierney said: “It is a huge honour that Pat Hume and the Hume family intend to give these unique peace prizes to the people of Derry. John Hume was my great hero. He was a true and courageous peace maker who made a huge impact in Derry, on the island and internationally. As President Clinton rightly said: ‘He was Ireland’s Martin Luther King.’” 

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Derry documentary makers land £40k Netflix prize

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A pair of Derry filmmakers have been awarded £40,000 from Netflix to fund a documentary about a local rapper.

Sean Mullan and Michael Barwise were among 10 filmmaking teams from across the UK named as beneficiaries of the streaming service’s new Documentary Talent Fund.

Each recipient will receive up to £40,000 in financing and mentoring to create their own short film between 8 to 12 minutes long, answering the brief, ‘Britain’s Not Boring and Here’s a Story’.

Sean and Michael’s film is about Jordan-Lee Brady-James, aka HYFIN, a young Derry man who is told that someone with a Northern Irish accent can’t rap.

The final films will be delivered in January 2022 and published on Netflix UK’s social channels, with the potential for further development.

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Clipper Race Derry-bound in 2022

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The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is once again set to drop anchor in Derry next year, with the city announced as a host port.

Plans are now underway for the July 2022 Clipper stopover and the return of the internationally acclaimed Foyle Maritime Festival, which draws more than 200,000 attendees to the city’s quayside.

The Clipper 2019-20 Race was suspended in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, and plans for Derry to act as a Host Port Partner for the fifth time last summer were put on hold. The award-winning Foyle Maritime Festival was also cancelled as Council’s events programme moved online. The last Foyle Maritime Festival in 2018 attracted almost 211,000 attendees to a packed programme of events, and provided an estimated economic boost of at least £2 million for the local economy.

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Hill Street hatches plans with LEVELUP prize

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A hospitality pop-up incubator has been selected from 12 Northern Irish start-ups to be named overall winners of LEVELUP 2021.

Delivered by Startacus in partnership with Derry City and Strabane District Council, LEVELUP 2021 was a two-day hybrid event which took place on 21st and 22nd April, looking at innovation, ideas and inspiration from around the world.

The event was part of the programme for Enterprise Week Derry Strabane and explored how people, both locally and internationally, have created opportunity, economic growth and initiated real change.

Hill Street Hatch are a pop-up space in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter offering a creative partnership for entrepreneurs in the local hospitality scene to test and launch new concepts and ideas.

Co-founders of the start-up, Ema O’Kane and Ryan Crown, scooped the £2,000 cash prize after their virtual pitch impressed a panel of industry professionals and investors during Derry-Strabane Enterprise Week in April.

LEVELUP judge Judge Naomi Timperley praised the winning pitch: “Love love love this concept – great pitch and passion.

“A great idea to ‘try before you buy’ for the hospitality industry. So many restaurant concept ideas crash and burn and this is a way of trialling the concepts first and building an audience.”

Hill Street Hatch

Catch-up on LEVELUP and other Enterprise Week events here.

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City Deal partners present Innovation Stories webinar series

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A new webinar series has been launched to celebrate innovation in the North West.

The Innovation Stories webinars follow the signing of the historic Derry & Strabane City Deal in February, and also come as Northern Ireland embarks on a Decade of Innovation, set out in the recent publication of the Department for the Economy’s 10X Economy paper.

Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, Derry City and Strabane District Council and Ulster University are collaborating on the series. Its first event, targeted at businesses and employees considering upskilling and anyone with a stake in the innovation or City Deal agenda, was held this month.

Rosalind Young, the Council’s investment manager, said: “Through the visionary Derry and Strabane City Deal, a whole new innovation eco-system will develop here in the region. The people behind the City Deal are inviting businesses to hear best practice and to leave with an idea of how they will play their part in the Decade of Innovation that is ahead.”

One of the academics and researchers behind the planned, Centre for Industrial Digitalisation, Robotics and Automation (CIDRA), Justin Quinn of Ulster University’s School of Computing Engineering and Intelligent Systems at the Magee campus said:

“With Industry 4.0 upon us, a new form of manufacturing is about to begin which will change the face of industry. It will bring about huge opportunities for the industries who embrace it and challenges for those who do not. Work is underway now to bring about a Centre for Industrial Digitalisation, Robotics and Automation in Derry. We are inviting businesses to consider how they would like to be part of the Derry City Deal. Covid-19 forced many a business to reconsider how they operate, so in many ways we have seen that rapid change is possible. We would like to help companies to begin their innovation journey now so as to be ready to take advantage of centres like CIDRA and CARL when they are in place. ”

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