Northern Visions: Echoes Across the Atlantic
Programme of Work 2026–2027
At Northern Visions, broadcasting is more than moving images; it is a vital act of cultural preservation and community empowerment. Moving into our 2026–2027 season, we are expanding our groundbreaking partnership with the Ulster-Scots Agency and a dynamic grassroots network. Together, we are set to deliver an electrifying slate of Ulster-Scots programming that spans broadcast television, global digital platforms, and deep-tier community archives.
Following the historic transfer of our Belfast local TV licence to That’s TV – the UK’s tenth largest broadcaster – our content now enjoys permanent prime-time distribution. This ensures that our high-standard, community-authored productions are delivered straight into hundreds of thousands of households across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and Great Britain.
The 2026–2027 Creative Slate
Our programming format bridges traditional broadcast excellence with raw, cinéma vérité intimacy, capturing the honest, unfiltered voices of the Ulster-Scots people.
What Revolting People! – The Ulster-Scots and the American Revolution
(1 x 30 min) As the world marks the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, presenter David Hume traces the stubborn, anti-authoritarian streak running from the Scottish Lowlands through Ulster to the battlefields of 1776. Fusing newly captured local footage with pre-filmed American testimony, this documentary uncovers the intimate family lines and radical philosophies that shook the Atlantic world.
Amazing Ulster Americans
(9 x 15 min) David Hume returns to guide viewers through the ‘missing chapters’ of global icons like Amelia Earhart, John Steinbeck, and Rosa Parks. By exploring local landscapes – from Culmore’s fields to ancestral graves in Ballykelly – we ground sweeping American legends in tangible Ulster roots.
Aul Sangs Frae the Kist
(1 x 30 min) Confronting the myth that Ulster-Scots “has no songs,” Frank Ferguson unlocks historical music archives to trace how melodies cross-pollinated across the North Channel. Alongside notation expert Gráinne Milner-McLoone, the film follows traditional musicians as they reconstruct centuries-old fragments into living sound, before shifting into a bold, modern re-imagining for today’s listeners.
Mingy Aul’ Scrooge!
(1 x 10 min) A dark, fast, and unnerving winter treat written by Eileen McCohan. Filmed inside Newtownabbey’s historic Mervelle House, this short drops Dickens’ famous miser into the sharp wit and atmospheric dread of Ulster-Scots supernatural storytelling, performed entirely in the native leid.
Events, Heritage & Culture Magazine
A contemporary, fast-flowing chronicle of the community’s vibrant year. Anchored by two presenters, this series prioritizes underrepresented community narratives, women’s history, and Northern Visions’ historic commitment to LGBTQ+ and ethnic minority diversity. Key features include Ulster-Scots Day, Belfast Burns Week, and precious, first-hand accounts from speakers in their late eighties and nineties.
Community Authorship & Legacy
At the core of Northern Visions is an adaptive, “people-to-people” development model. We provide local volunteers and grassroots groups with joint editorial control, professional mentoring, and an open-access media centre to create media they truly own.
Our impact extends far beyond the screen. Our copyright-free, 40-year archive continuously feeds education and research, depositing invaluable historical films into local libraries, museums, and regional interpretive centres. Furthermore, we remain dedicated to Nurturing Next-Generation Talent.
By marrying regional relevance with international ambition, Northern Visions ensures the Ulster-Scots language, culture, and identity do not just survive – they actively thrive.
Arts projects at Northern Visions are generously supported by:
