past project
Spot-Lit Project, 2018-2022
The untapped potential of literary tourism has been the focus of Spot-lit, to grow the literary tourism sector in the Northern Periphery and Arctic region.
Project Overview
Growing the Literary Tourism Sector
The untapped potential of literary tourism has been the focus of Spot-lit, to grow the literary tourism sector in the Northern Periphery and Arctic region. The programme supported organisations and businesses in this culturally rich region to grow, collaborate and better engage audiences together.
Literary Tourism is an emerging niche sector within the wider cultural tourism sector, where places with literary heritage offer author and fiction-related literary tourism opportunities, along with opportunities arising from literary festivals, trails and book shops. In the Central Border Region of Ireland / Northern Ireland, this would include literary rich locations such as Enniskillen, synonymous with the schooldays of Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett, Patrick Kavanagh in Iniskeen, County Monaghan, dramatist Brian Friel in Tyrone/Donegal & Derry-Londonderry, Seamus Heaney in Bellaghy in County Derry/Londonderry, and links to Jonathan Swift in Armagh.
A Region Home to World Class Literary icons and landscapes
The regions participating in the Spot-lit programme area were Northern Ireland, the Border Counties and West of Ireland, Eastern Finland, and South-West Scotland. Collectively, the region is home to world-class literary icons and landscapes, however, research suggests there is potential for this sector to work together and grow significantly.
Current low levels of joined-up literary tourism activity in the Northern Periphery and Arctic Region make it a sector that is ripe for development.
The project included:
- the development of a cluster network across the regions
- a series of support programmes for SMEs
- the development of 29 new literary products/services
- along with shared learning and transnational marketing.
The project completed in March 2022 and here is a link to its website.
Related Past Projects
Discover other ICBAN initiatives supporting regional development, cross-border cooperation and sustainable growth across the Central Border Region.
The Framework of Regional Priorities
Strategic initiative 2021-2027
Presenting a strategic response that is unique and tailored to the assets and characteristics of the Central Border Region.
BREXIT
Research initiatives completed with Queen’s University Belfast
Giving a voice to local communities on the impact of Brexit
Border Compass, 2018
Reconciliation Fund Projects
The Border Compass Project included a series of elements, which required collaborative working between different project partners.
Get In Touch
Ready to Get Involved?
For additional details on our programmes, partnerships and participation opportunities, please contact us today.