Beyond Skin is an organisation based in Northern Ireland using music, art, multimedia and radio as a tool for cultural education & exchange in an aim to address racism and sectarianism Established in January 2004 Beyond Skin has been very innovative in creative peace-building methodologies with 80% of projects working directly with young people.
Key aims:
- To address racism and sectarianism in Northern Ireland through multicultural arts
- To promote positive attributes reflected from a society made up of different cultures
- To promote multicultural arts for the benefit of the inhabitants of Northern Ireland
- To promote racial harmony and the exchange of cultural ideas and relations through the medium of the arts
- To contribute to maintaining a peaceful society in Northern Ireland
- To increase social awareness of different cultures within Northern Ireland
- To increase links between communities from different cultural backgrounds
- To present, promote, organise, manage and produce performances and exhibitions of works of cultural and educational value
Beyond Skin develop, manage and facilitate many activities and projects throughout Ireland; some short term and some long term.
Some of the biggest resources Beyond Skin has developed are…
- The Motion Project: Northern Ireland’s largest multicultural music collective using music as a tool for cultural learning and exchange.
- Homely Planet Radio: Internet Radio Network focusing on cultural education, exchange and world music.
- Beyond Skin Global: A global education initiative, delivering projects and partnership programmes exploring global development issues and how they relate to local race relations.
- World Music NI: World Music NI is a social initiative aiming to use music to explore diversity and promote the world music sector through the development of projects, festivals & networks. WMNI is also a resource of musicians and bands within the world/roots/traditional music sector.
- The Next Village: Global education radio series and audio resource
- Akrowa: traditional West African drum and percussion performance group
Beyond Skin uses multi-cultural arts, music and media to address racism, sectarianism and global issues, aiming to dismantle prevailing stereotypes and prejudices by highlighting the positive benefits to be gained through cultural exchanges. The organisation also promotes multicultural arts for the benefit of all, regardless of ethnicity.
Although we operate with the usual tight governance procedures of most charities, Beyond Skin are very unique. More of global family than an organisation, a social force rather than a brand and most of all a dynamic team of individuals that form part of a wider global movement to promote peace and equality for all.
For more information visit some of our main websites
www.beyondskin.net (central website)
www.beyondskinglobal (Beyond Skin Global BSG)
www.homelyplanet.org (Homely Planet Radio)
www.thenextvillage.org (global education audio resource)
www.oneworldfestival.net (One World Festival)
www.beyondpeaceday.com (Peace Day Festival)
www.belfasteast.net (East Belfast Programme)
www.youtube.com/user/beyondskin
