One Among Many…
Spectrum Premiere For New Mackie Documentary Memories of Mackies were evoked on the evening of Friday 28th January, 2011, when the Spectrum Centre’s 300-seat main auditorium hosted the premiere of ‘One Among Many’ - a ninety minute film documenting the 45 years Belfast man Stanley Jebb spent working for James Mackie & Sons. The iconic West Belfast firm led the world in textile manufacturing machinery production, and Stanley travelled the globe for 40 years selling their innovative machines. Featuring personal testimony from many Mackie family members, the documentary was richly illustrated with previously unseen 8mm cine film shot by Mr Jebb and his colleagues, and offered an entertaining look back at a golden age when Belfast engineering was the best in the world. Lord Lieutenant Dame Mary Peters was the guest of honour at the premiere, along with DCAL Minister Nelson McCausland MLA, Baroness May Blood and a well known ex-Mackie man, former Belfast Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers! Three generations of the Mackie family helped fill 300 seats, along with many former Mackie employees. The Big Duke Six Films documentary wasn’t the only talking point, though, as Spectrum stalwarts Bob Foster and Sam Coulter had created a series of superb Mackie memorabilia displays in the foyer. Harking back to Mackie munitions work, a WW2 Bofors anti-aircraft gun and shells, supplied by David McCallion of War Years Remembered, also provided great interest to the assembled guests. DVD copies of the film are available by contacting 02890 622422 or emailing: thejebbs@sky.com.    Wheelworks supports children and young people's social and cultural development right across Northern Ireland, through accessible and innovative community based programmes. These provide a creative fusion of traditional and digital art forms, harnessing the arts for learning and change and giving young people a voice. The dream: A fully inclusive society where children and young people can develop and sustain their creative potential through active participation in the arts. The Artcart is Wheelworks' unique mobile digital arts vehicle, delivering a range of bespoke arts based projects to young people directly in their own communities and at festivals and events throughout Northern Ireland.
This year, Wheelworks are very proud to have reached their landmark tenth year on the road and have decided to celebrate by making trips up hill, down dale, across the highways and byways, bringing the Artcart to community centres, youth groups, arts organisations and festivals the length and breadth of Northern Ireland. Wheelworks had the privilege of being selected by young people in Derry/Londonderry to run a graphic design workshop in july at the interact youth arts festival spearheaded by the Millennium Forum, a project created by youth, for youth, encouraging 12-21 year olds of all capabilities and from all backgrounds in derry/londonderry to interact with the arts and with each other. and fresh from the sublime sonic artistic abandon of the stendhal festival in Limavady last weekend, the Artcart is gearing up for performances at two very special cultural shin-digs. next up on 25th August is the launch of an animated film made by Wheelworks and young people from the Spectrum Centre as part of their Creative Arts Festival which is closely followed by the Inaugural Newcastle Arts Festival, Co. Down, from 26th-28th August, where the Artcart provides the launching pad for some digital music and contemporary sounds that all the family from the young in age to the young at heart can appreciate.
Joan Dempster, community arts development officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said, "the Artcart is an excellent platform for children and young people to develop and strengthen their creativity. As a key funder, the Arts Council is very supportive of innovative ways to engage all age groups in the arts and the Artcart promises to do this in a fun and dynamic way. Congratulations to Wheelworks on this ten year milestone celebration and i look forward to seeing what the next ten years has to offer."
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