by Ed Forry

Tourism Ireland convened an inter continental virtual conference to promote the Belfast International Arts Festival (BIAF 2020), which runs from October 12 through November 1. The festival returns for a 58th edition with a programme of inspirational events that seeks to respond creatively to the current pandemic. The 2020 edition is primarily being hosted online through Sunday November, 1.
As Northern Ireland’s largest contemporary arts festival and cornerstone of the annual cultural calendar, this year’s programme features an extended Talks & Ideas programme; theatre, dance and music performances reimagined for a digital audience; and developmental initiatives for artists from across the island.
The 2020 edition continues to explore contemporary matters of interest to our audiences such as gender equality, multi-culturalism, representation, the climate crisis, and democracy.
Online performancesis this week (thru Sunday 10/18) include Macbeth, Singing Struggle and Agreement, 139th RUA Annual Exhibition, Kim Vaughan (cello) and Philip Higham (cello), No Word for ‘Stay’ | Panel Discussion, Oona Doherty and Luca Truffarelli – In Conversation and Piatti Quartet with Janina Fialkowska (piano)
Full details at https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/