The spectacular Mourne Mountains are featured in a new short film celebrating the early life of celebrated writer CS Lewis.
The four minute film, ‘CS Lewis and the Island of his Birth‘ was shown at the launch of Heritage Experience, a new social enterprise company dedicated to promoting Northern Ireland’s rich cultural heritage to the rest of the world.
Narrated by CS Lewis expert Sandy Smith, a director of Heritage Experience, the film features dramatic footage of the Mournes, said to be the one of the inspirations for the landscape of Narnia.
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The Minister, the Writer and the Wardrobe: Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and CS Lewis expert Sandy Smith at the famous novelist’s statue at Holywood Arches launching the new cultural tourism company Heritage Experience.[/caption]
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster launching the new social enterprise, said: “Heritage Experience will play a valuable role in developing cultural tourism in Northern Ireland by showcasing the lives of celebrated “exports” such as CS Lewis and reaching out to local people as well as the Diaspora located across the world.
“Tens of thousands of visitors come here every year to explore their family roots and experience our extraordinarily varied history and heritage. With a new social enterprise dedicated to developing this important market I would expect the vast potential for cultural tourism to be further realised.”
At the launch Minister Foster unveiled a new short film about CS Lewis’ Ulster connections. The production was commissioned by Heritage Experience which will use it to help promote cultural heritage tours and other tourism related products.
Heritage Experience is a collaborative venture between one of Northern Ireland’s leading economic development agencies LEDCOM and top cultural organisations the Ulster Historical Foundation, which helps visitors trace their Irish ancestry and the Ulster Scots Community Network which works to promote and preserve Ulster Scots heritage.
It has received start up support under the Invest NI Social Entrepreneurship Programme and Rural Development Funding (RDP) under the North East Region Rural Development Programme.
Ken Nelson, Heritage Experience Chairman and Chief Executive of LEDCOM said the new organisation would explore new cultural heritage markets and tell the story of Northern Ireland, its history and its remarkable individuals that have made a global impact.
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CS Lewis at work.[/caption]
He said: “The aim of this new company is to help build brand awareness of Northern Ireland by developing and marketing a range of popular cultural heritage and tourism related products and services that will support economic development and help create jobs.
“We are excited by the launch of the new CS Lewis film, the first of three short pieces which will be used as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the author’s links to this part of the world .
“In the months ahead we will also focus on using the Ulster Scots heritage to forge greater links with Scots Irish communities in North America and beyond. But it is not just about Ulster Scots, it is about promoting all aspects of our culture.”
Heritage Experience Director Sandy Smith, the former Joint Director General of the International Fund for Ireland, has been running CS Lewis tours since 2005 when the first Narnia film captured the imagination of millions of movie-goers.
He has been working on the three short films which the new social enterprise will use to promote the tour to the overseas market and persuade CS Lewis scholars and enthusiasts to come to Belfast.
“There’s huge potential to grow the link between CS Lewis and Northern Ireland and bring many more visitors to our shores,” Sandy Smith said.
The new company will act as a facilitator for other companies involved in cultural tourism by sourcing and marketing related products such as giftware, literature, DVDs and CDs.
It also plans to develop programmes for radio, TV and web-based content related to cultural heritage in order to create broad awareness of common and connecting cultural heritage between Northern Ireland and external markets. It is already in discussions with local production companies about the potential to partner on such projects
The directors of HE are Ken Nelson, Chief Executive LEDCOM and initial HE Chairman, Sandy Smith, former Joint Director General of the International Fund for Ireland ), Dr William Roulston, Research Director of the Ulster Historical Foundation, and Iain Carlisle, Director of the Ulster-Scots Community Network.
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