The Smithsonian Associates

The Smithsonian Associates offers a stunning variety of educational programmes and study tours that open the doors to the Smithsonian's world of opportunity. Established 40 years ago as the membership, cultural, and educational arm of the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Associates is recognised as the world's largest and most esteemed museum-based continuing education program.

Northern Ireland is predisposed to create great local produce, with our lush green pastures, changeable climate and fertile landscape. A combination of this reputation for quality produce, and our developing status as a gastronomic highlight mean that the perception of Northern Ireland food is fast developing. A food event will present a renowned Northern Irish chef delivering a food tasting session to the audience, highlighting important aspects of the region’s food product, and giving the audience an opportunity to learn more about the culinary importance of contemporary Northern Ireland.

24 May 2007 - Noel McMeel will present a 'a taste of Northern Ireland' to members of the Smithsonian Associates - an Northern Ireland inspired dinner will be the highlight, with Noel presenting the dishes and discussing his Northern Ireland food experiences.

Northern Ireland has a long tradition of grand stately homes and across the region, many of those homes are now owned by the National Trust and open to the public to explore. However, some of these properties are still privately owned and their owners are meeting daily challenges in the effort to maintain the beauty and grandeur of the houses for generations to some. In this lecture, the owners of one of these beautiful and distinguished properties will discuss the management of such a property in contemporary Northern Ireland, and convey the past history and present usage of the house to the audience.

17 July 2007 - Life in the Big House: An interview with Lord Dunleath, discussing the challenges of maintaining the Big House in contemporary Northern Ireland

BBC Presenter Darryl Grimason, a native of County Armagh, will take the audience on an inspiring voyage through the Northern Ireland landscape, by land, water and air. Darryl is renowned for his work on the television series Big Six, and Coast. Darryl will use a combination of narrative, poetry and audio visual highlights to convey a sense of place about Northern Ireland to the audience. He will explore the development of some of Northern Ireland’s most fascinating natural creations, and the impact that this natural landscape has had on its people.

09 July 2007 - Northern Ireland - an Inspirational Landscape: using BBC audio visual footage, poetry & literature to convey the huge imapct that Northern Ireland's air, water and land has had on its people. Darryl will take the audience on an informal, but intriguing journey.

Phil Coulter, world renowned songwriter, composer and performer from Londonderry will be taking his audience on a musical journey through Northern Ireland. The musical tradition of the region will be explored through songs and melodies relating to the people, place and landscape of Northern Ireland. Phil will convey the emotion, the passion and the story of Northern Ireland, not just through music but through anecdotes and narratives about contemporary Northern Ireland.

30 June 2007 - Phil Coulter: A Place I Loved So Well - A Musical Journey Through Northern Ireland. Phil and his accompanying musician will play songs of Northern Ireland, and tell the stories of their part in Northern Ireland culture.

18 June 2007 7 p.m - Contemporary craft practice in Northern Ireland is a visual manifestation of the creativity of this confident, outward-looking region.  The notion of place and people, their stories, histories, and memories, is embedded in the indigenous crafts. The role of the craftsperson versus technology in the journey from handmade to machine-made reflects the story of Northern Ireland and its changing relationship with the modern world.

In an illustrated lecture, Joe Kelly, director of Craft Northern Ireland, focuses on the country’s major crafts and the criteria that distinguish the best and most innovative.  He discusses the different crafts, such as ceramics, glass, jewelry, silver, and textiles.  Kelly also considers topical questions such as authored and non-authored work, handmade versus mass-produced objects, and identity. An exposition of contemporary craft in Northern Ireland