Conrad Atkinson and the Belfast Media Group were among the prize-winners at tonight’s Arts and Business Awards in Belfast for his moving exhibition Some Wounds Healing; Some Birds Singing.

Pictured with the beautiful ceramic plate designed by Stephen Farnan are the representative of sponsors Allianz Adrian Toner, Conrad Atkinson, Alison Sweeney of the Belfast Media Group, Belfast Deputy Lord Mayor Bernie Kelly, and Alice O’Rawe of Arts & Business.

Among the speakers were Paul Sweeney of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure who suggested that arts could be the solution to the questions being posed by Eames-Bradley on how to come to terms with the past. Conrad Atkinson made the point that the amazing economic success of Silicon Valley in the nineties and noughties was the product of the explosion in the creative arts in the San Francisco area in the proceeding two decades.

Having watched Conrad’s project take shape on this blog over the past 18 months, I know From The Balcony readers will extend congratulations to Conrad.

Among the other award winners was the Linenhall Library in Belfast for reviving the Ulster Miscellany literary mag. Librarian John Gray tells me that he’s been commissioned by the Arts Council to write a 5,000 word essay on Troubles art. One of his starting points, undoubtedly, will be the work of acclaimed Armagh artist Brian Valelly who, if John’s memory serves him right, was released on parole from Crumlin Road Jail, where he was serving a six month sentence in connection with the civil rights protests of Peoples Democracy in the late sixties, to attend the opening of an exhibition of his work in the Arts Council premises in Belfast. It should be an interesting read.