How can we be sure Belfast Stories represents everyone?
Hello, it's me.
Seeing it your way
Deciding the best way to gather, store and share stories is not an easy task. Belfast is no stranger to strong, strident opinions.
However, when it comes to receiving feedback on our existing ideas and developing new ones, we are completely committed to being transparent and inclusive.
We have a responsibility to ensure that we engage with as many viewpoints, identities, and cultures as possible in this most comprehensive of story gathering projects.
Listening and learning
Our first formal public consultation was carried out in 2022. We met and heard from over four thousand people.
We also invited individuals to express their ideas, questions and concerns online. We’re continued the conversation in 2023 and 2024 including the launch of our Stories Network where people can come to share their thoughts on how the project is progressing. What we’ve heard has helped us to progress the concepts we are sharing now.
We want to continue to listen and learn – so that’s why we’re inviting your views during this second public consultation.
In 2022 Belfast Stories recorded:
- 2,755 visits and 2,495 unique visitors to Belfast Stories online consultation hub
- 234 unique visitors viewed or downloaded the consultation documents and videos
- 149 responses to online survey and polls
- 65 consultation workshops
- 1,148 participants engaged through consultation workshops and events
This is different
We believe that a full a commitment to inclusivity in developing Belfast Stories is what will make it a success for the city and its people.
We want the discussions we have with individuals and groups to be undertaken with an honest, authentic desire to bring with us as many diverse perspectives as we can.
Yours to enjoy
Of course, our commitment to inclusivity goes further than just bringing a multitude of ideas and opinions into play.
Every aspect of the completed building, its spaces, entrances, exits, exhibitions, and activities must be accessible and attractive to as wide an audience as possible. This means designing fun, accessible, family-oriented spaces alongside conceptual art installations; places for performance discussion and creativity beside private nooks for thought and reflection; the surprise of the new should sit side by side with the familiarity of the old. Nothing to exclude anyone at any time.
We know that there will be a mix of ticketed and free to access programmes and facilities. However, we still have a lot of work to do to agree how we will manage the building and how we will ensure that local people have access.
You can contribute your thoughts about the Belfast Stories by completing our online survey or attending one of our many public consultation sessions. You can find out more about these in the next section.
