2009 Summary

2009 seen many changes for the organisation now in its 5th year with the development of new programs and many staff changes.

With a solid foundation of successful projects, especially by the multicultural group, The Motion Project and later in 2008 with Homely Planet radio, it was important in 2009 that Beyond Skin strengthened its position as a peacebuilding organisation whilst challenging concepts how the aims & objectives were reached.
Partnership and ownership had always been key values of Beyond Skin and with the growth of Homely Planet radio and networks locally and globally, 2009 was a year to really exercise and develop partnerships.
Sharing resources with SEEDS and the Foyle Language School in Derry enabled a long overdue Beyond Skin office presence in the Northwest. This was a very important move to develop opportunities in the Northwest primarily using music and radio.

Funding from Office First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM), EU Peace III Northeast, Belfast City Council Culture & Arts outreach & development and creative legacies programmes presented us with opportunities to really deliver our ideas.

We learnt to play to our strengths, having a strong influence in the world music sector and managing an internet broadcast service with the ability to link communities around the world. With new members of the Beyond Skin team bringing new visions and skills - radio initiatives and cultural education through world music concepts quickly grew launching Beyond Skin into new territory we had been sitting on the fringes of all along. A massive thank-you is due to the British Council for assisting the cost of getting a member of our staff to represent world music in Northern Ireland at the largest World Music Expo in Copenhagan. (womex)

Yes, we are primarily a peacebuilding organisation addressing racism & sectarianism, but how we do things is through the arts, music and media and those outputs achieve the outcomes. Beyond Skin are here to show world culture through another lens, one that gives opportunities for questions, exchange and relationships.
Our process of learning is not just to educate people, but to also empower them and develop their confidence.

2009 we welcomed in new artists, musicians and networks and reached out to those who shared our vision and passion. We never took for granted our respected position in Northern Ireland as a community arts organisation or the support others gave to us, and we offered as much back as we could manage.

Our marketing strategy and branding ethos was maximised in 2009 as we gave more freedom to our multimedia partner Sinful Design. There is no doubt that the artistic value of Sinful Design on websites, products, and marketing had a massive positive impact on the success of promotions and projects. We realized that if you are an arts influenced organisation, the artistic quality must be visible in all areas.

Cultural division in Northern Ireland 2009 still remained a challenge and although a vast amount of work was being done to counteract racism, it became evident that sectarian attitudes still needed to be addressed.
Beyond Skin welcomed new 2009 initiatives such as Unite Against Hate, and in 2010 we aim to continue to share our knowledge and resources to support other people working for peace.
We will of course on our journey produce great outcomes in Art, Music and Radio through the very talented and generous people we work with and have still yet to meet.

Darren Ferguson
(project manager)