RESOLUTION NO. RS2016-146

A resolution recognizing Dr. Ian Brick and Katherine Brick.

WHEREAS, Nashville and Belfast, Northern Ireland have been Sister Cities since 1995; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ian Brick and his wife, Katherine Brick, were native to Belfast, Northern Ireland, but made Nashville their home since 1987; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ian and Katherine Brick were tireless in their efforts to establish the relationship between their two “home towns” and during their lives, they were a source of creativity and energy behind many successful projects in both cities, including the following, among others:

Belfast and Nashville side-by-side Art Exchange (1999); and

The Ulster Project in Nashville, which, in partnership with the international Ulster Project, brought Protestant and Catholic youth to Nashville where they learned about life as an American teenager through home-stays with local families and built trust and reconciliation through social activities, community service projects, and worship (2003-2004); and

Partnership between Vanderbilt University in Nashville and Queens University in Belfast, which celebrated 10 years of regular faculty and student exchanges in 2015; and

The Belfast-Nashville Songwriters Festival in Belfast and the Belfast-Nashville Songwriters Showcases in Nashville, organized by Panarts in Belfast and supported by Sister Cities of Nashville with the assistance of Dr. Ian and Katherine Brick for over 11 years in 2016, opening the doors for countless creative exchanges and economic development; and

WHEREAS, in 2011, Dr. Brick was honored for his contributions to Northern Ireland education services by being appointed an officer of the Civil Division of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) and received the award from Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace; and

WHEREAS, in March 2015, Nashville hosted the first annual Music City Irish Fest, bringing artists from Belfast, as well as the Republic of Ireland and Scotland, along with local Nashville bands together to celebrate our common musical heritage; and

WHEREAS, in October 2015, Nashville and Belfast were selected by the international Music Cities Convention held in Washington, D.C. to share Nashville and Belfast as a case study and example of best practice in leveraging their sister city relationship for greater economic and creative opportunities in both cities; and

WHEREAS, a large measure of the credit for the sustaining nature of these programs and international recognition goes to Dr. Ian Brick who continued to support the Nashville-Belfast relationship after the heartbreaking death of his wife, Katherine Brick in 2008; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ian Brick, beloved friend, father, brother and grandfather, died on July 5, 2015; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council honor Dr. Ian and Katherine Brick and thank them for their outstanding contributions to the Nashville-Belfast Sister City partnership.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. Dr. Ian Brick and Katherine Brick should be publically recognized, honored and thanked for their outstanding contributions to the Nashville-Belfast Sister City partnership, music and cultural exchanges, educational exchanges, and the promotion of peace, mutual respect and international relations generally.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Council Office is directed to prepare a copy of this Resolution to be presented to the surviving members of the Brick family.

Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Burkley Allen