that was 2008

hard to believe another year gone...
2008 was the year of the launches for Beyond Skin with our first Youth in Motion CD in January, the first broadcast of Homely Planet radio in April, the release of the Journey of Equals DVD & Media program in August and launch of the Belfast East program in September.
Also 2008 seen the start of the ‘exploring diversity through music’ global education program in association with the Department for International Development, screenings of the new 1 Giant Leap film, ‘what about me?’ and further growth of the Motion Project collective.
Also on top of the programs Beyond Skin moved office, had several board member changes and core staff changes.

Regarding marketing Beyond Skin has continued to direct focus at participants and outcomes instead of self-promotion, but we have still managed to attract media interest with features in many publications, press items and radio & TV programs. Word of mouth still is our biggest marking tool with the quality of programs we run and the good practice of our facilitators and artists.

Prior 2008 the arts where not taken that seriously regarding a medium for addressing cultural relations problems, but many changes through research and policies in 2008 resulted in the arts seen as a very affective tool regarding addressing social problems. The outcomes from Beyond Skin programs undoubtedly helped prove the point of how powerful the arts are when it comes to dealing with difficult issues.
Through the radio greater evidence was also revealed how more simple communication issues need to be addressed. The mystery surrounding cultures still remains due to political correctness barriers and the lack of opportunities for people from different backgrounds to share beliefs, traditions and values. This is an area where Homely Planet provided a forum to assist cultural education and also helped quench fears that surround different communities due to lack of understanding or misleading information from other sources.

2008 Beyond Skin took part in many research projects and consultations local & international which gave us a respected place within the global peace building sector. This gave another dimension to Beyond Skin aside from just being recognised for delivering innovative local cultural education arts programs. Also a new strategy was to focus on global issues such as fair-trade, migration & poverty; this helped people see themselves as part of a world picture which in turn assisted a better understanding of cultural diversity.

To summarise 2008 was the year Beyond Skin strengthened its foundation and celebrated results developed in 2007. A year when we as a team we realised our potential and possibilities the people of Northern Ireland could have if we focused on the positive of a shared society. One of our artists once said “it would be a sad thing if we stopped hating one thing and started hating another”. Northern Ireland has come so far, that most have forgotten what an amazing nation we are. Yes our history still is a part of who we are but our future will be a part of what we become. Beyond Skin along with many other groups is part of the hidden mechanism ensuring that where possible all citizens feel welcome and at home in Northern Ireland, a place that can set an example to the rest of the world how inter-culturalism can really work.

DF