The Festivals Project: Beckett, Ireland and the Biographical Festival

Ireland, north and south, is rich with festivals, each one blending unique local flavours with international arts and cultural production...

Festivalisation has been identified as increasingly shaping cultural production over the last half century in the UK, Europe and North America. This is particularly the case on the island of Ireland with the commemoration of Irish authors in the form of the bio-festival. Festivals form powerful vehicles for the sharing of cultures, and provide opportunities for artists, even as they play into the contemporary demand for events driven by the experience economy. This two-day symposium will draw together those who have an interest in festivals in order to consider the ways in which these popular events impact on cultural production and the tourist industry, commemorate the lives of artists and authors, and relate to the places and peoples which host them.

Two Day Event

Beckett’s work and its festival incarnations provide an important prompt for discussion but our speakers will address wider issues relating to festivalisation and the bio-festival. Our event will open with Sean Doran, director of the Happy Days Enniskillen International Beckett Festival, in conversation (Friday 4pm) and feature public talks and discussion from 10.30am to 5pm on Saturday 18 November.

On Saturday, speakers will include David Pattie (University of Birmingham), Alice Diver (Edge Hill University), Nicolas Johnson (Trinity College Dublin), and Hugh Odling-Smee (Literary Associate of the Belfast International Arts Festival).

The event is free and open to the public but places are limited to approx 40 people.

This event has been organised by Dr Kathryn White (Ulster University) and Dr Trish McTighe (University of Birmingham).