Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK

Strategy:

The goal was to develop a bespoke Music Strategy and implementation plan that supports the recovery and resilience of Belfast's music sector. The strategy aimed to address the short, medium, and long-term effects of the pandemic and provide a foundation for an inclusive, future-thinking music ecosystem through a series of activities.

Community Ideation: Collaborated with the UNESCO City of Music steering committee and city departments to establish strategic aims and ambitions for the project, ensuring alignment with the city's objectives and the music industry's needs.

Mapping: Conducted a comprehensive mapping exercise to identify all music assets in Belfast, resulting in the identification of 254 music assets across the city.

Literature Review and Regulatory Assessment: Analysed local and national literature and policies relevant to music in Belfast, as well as reviewed existing regulatory frameworks impacting the music sector.

SWOT Analysis: Performed a thorough analysis of the mapping exercise, literature review, and regulatory assessment to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to Belfast's music ecosystem.

Comparative Analysis and Benchmarking: Conducted a comparative analysis of Belfast against five international cities, evaluating various music-related topics, policies, and regulations to identify areas for improvement.

Stakeholder Engagement: Engaged with the music community through interviews, roundtables, and an online survey, involving a total of 769 participants. The insights gathered from 39 interviews and roundtables informed the study.

UNESCO City of Music Application: Revised the UNESCO City of Music application to align it with the research findings and recommendations of Sound Diplomacy, strengthening the application's quality and content.

Economic Impact Analysis: Assessed the direct, indirect, and induced economic value of Belfast's music ecosystem to understand its contribution to the local economy.

Outcomes:

As a result of the project, Belfast successfully obtained the prestigious UNESCO City of Music status, recognizing its vibrant music scene and cultural heritage. In addition, Belfast's music industry received a £100,000 funding boost, providing financial support for its recovery and development. The Belfast Music Strategy and Resilience Plan lays the foundation for the city's music ecosystem, enabling a resilient, inclusive, and forward-thinking approach to support the recovery and long-term growth of the music sector.