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Art In The City

Art In The City

Belfast's arts scene better than London?!

Sounds a fanciful notion, but in a UK Arts Capital Survey conducted by TV channel Artsworld, Belfast ranked fifth while London only managed ninth place.

Yet another example of Belfast's successful 'catch-up' after three decades in the doldrums.

There's no doubt local arts and culture is playing a vital role in revitalising the city and helping make it one of Europe's emerging destinations.

As Belfast's art map continues to evolve, follow our guide and uncover the best the city's creative talent has to offer.

From street sculptures to glossy galleries – everywhere you turn there's a work of art primed to catch your eye.

And what could be better than taking home a piece of local art as a unique souvenir? Sure beats a shillelagh.

See also Museums & Galleries for more canvas cuties.



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Belfast | Sightseeing | Art In The City

In an old stables courtyard off Queen's Quarter's Cromwell Road lurks this 'scrapyard' where old junk is magically transformed into objects of great beauty. This is recycling at its most artistic... with glasses made from wine bottles and green Grolsch beer bottles also fo [...]


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1a Lawrence St
tel. 9023 4993

Open:
10:00-18:00
Sunday:
Closed
Saturday:
10:00-16:00
Belfast Art Guide
Galleries, sculptures, venues, antiques and auction houses have all been brought together in Belfast City Council's new Art Guide.

Celebrating the capital's creative side, this 32 page colour booklet explores a wide spectrum of visual art, from large public galleries and small privately run spaces to public art that continues to transform the cityscape.

As well as showcasing the best art the city has to offer, the guide also hopes to inspire creativity with details on an extensive range of art workshops and classes for all abilities.

The Belfast Art Guide is available free from the Belfast Welcome Centre (t. 9024 6609) and other venues across the city.

It can also be downloaded at our website. [...]


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Belfast Print Workshop
Located in a beautifully renovated warehouse in Belfast's artisan Catherdal Quarter, the building's exterior is dominated by a dramatic steel and mosaic modern art sculpture. Inside, the gallery and workshop is dedicated to local artists working across various printmaking media. [...]


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Cotton Court, 30 Waring St.
tel. 9023 1323

Open:
10:00-17:30
Sunday:
Closed
Saturday:
Closed
Cafe Art
Not only does Belfast and its environs offer a feast of artistic establishments, but several cafes continue the creative theme by displaying work by many local artists.

Once the workspace of renowned painter William Conor, Cafe Connor has retained the building's light and airy interior, complete with lantern roof, and incorporated original pieces by another well-known local artist Neil Shawcross.

If you're feeling flush, ask the owner for a price guide, but bear in mind Shawcross's colourful creations sell for thousands of pounds - though they are magnificent... and quite the investment.

La Boca (pictured above) on Fountain Street uses its high white walls to excellent exhibition advantage with regularly changing artworks from the K Gallery.

Again, most pieces are for sale - though some large canvases may require their own seat for the journey home.

A few miles from Belfast is Holywood's Yard Gallery  - a delightful, contemporary cafe/art hybrid which positively implores you to while away an afternoon sampling delicious home-made food before perusing the ever-changing gallery and exhibition spaces.

One of NI's most celebrated chefs, Michael Deane, picks up the artistic mantle at Deanes at Queens where a bright, spacious interior provides excellent wall space for the acclaimed work of local artist Oliver Jeffers.

James Street South restaurant also provides classy wall space for local art. And there's even a gallery across the road should you crave some artistic take-away art treats.

Many more cafes and restaurants across town are choosing art as their decor of choice, so keep your eyes peeled for yet more creative interiors. [...]


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Catalyst Arts Gallery
Formed in 1993, Belfast's primary non-profit artist-led organisation acts as a 'catalyst' cajoling, supporting and promoting local, national and international artistic endeavours.

Catalyst also runs talks, seminars, screenings and music events, and holds an archive of over 2000 unique documents of Northern Irish art history which it is currently preparing to make publicly accessible.

Look out for the striking grafitti artwork (pictured above) pointing the way to the space tucked between Fountain Street and Queen Street. [...]


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2nd Floor, 5 College Court
tel. 9031 3303

Open:
11:00-17:00
Sunday:
Closed
Monday:
Closed

This long-established creative space, with a year-round programme of workshops, classes and events, includes the Fenderesky Gallery which features contemporary Irish art. Contact the Gallery for details on its cutting edge art exhibitions. [...]


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2-4 University Rd
tel. 9023 5245

Open:
11:30-17:00
Sunday:
Closed
Monday:
Closed
Ferrara Gallery
Local entrepreneur and former restauranteur Salvo Liberante has taken his love of art and created Ferrara Gallery - the Lisburn Road's latest creative space.

The Gallery features art from Salvo’s private collection, and specially acquired work by local artists most of which is available to buy.

Irish art ranging from traditional landscapes to more modern pieces by the likes of Mary Theresa Keown, J P Rooney and Terry Bradley (whose specially commissioned 'Bradley cow' graces the window) will be on display, alongside work by other Irish artists including David Gordon Hughes, Des Murrie, Ann Scullin and Zoe Murdoch.

And Italian Salvo has also added fellow countryman Marcello Fedele Caliri's vibrant Sicilian scenes to the portfolio, with six of his paintings on display. [...]


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98 Lisburn Rd
tel. 9066 1919

Open:
10:00-16:00
Sunday:
Closed

Old Museum Arts Centre
As well as providing Belfast's most innovative theatre space, OMAC also hosts regularly changing art exhibitions in its skylighted ground floor gallery . [...]


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7 College Square North
tel. 9023 3332
P.L.A.C.E.
Stop by this small exhibition space next to the Linen Hall Library (pictured above) and discover the changing face of Belfast city.

Urban and rural designs and architectural plans are on display, and locals can have their say on future developments.

A changing programme of lectures and events further enhance the experience, and a selection of design books is available to buy. [...]


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40 Fountain St.
tel. 9023 2524

Open:
00:00-00:00
Sunday:
Closed
Monday:
Closed
Tuesday:
Closed
Wednesday :
11:30-17:30
Thursday:
11:30-19:30
Friday:
11:30-17:30
Saturday:
11:30-17:30

Public art... and not a mural in sight.
Belfast's al fresco art scene isn't all gable end walls proclaiming political messages. Take an eye-catching stroll along the city streets to discover an open-air gallery displaying dozens of sculptures and works of art... the Cathedral Quarter and its environs alone contain over 30 pieces of contemporary art.

Here are just a few of our many favourites throughout the city...

The Waterfall of Souvenirs: A 5m high ceramic waterfall cascading down the Europa Buscentre and bypassed daily by throngs of commuters. Be one of the few to stop and contemplate its locally themed mosaic.

The Big Fish aka Salmon of Knowledge: A 10m long, erm, fish whose shiny blue and white ceramic scales depict moments in Belfast's history.

The Ring of Thanksgiving: Meet Belfast's tallest resident, a 15m high steel woman standing on a bronze globe and holding a ring representing peace and reconciliation - a familiar theme throughout the city. The work is inspired by Dallas's Thanksgiving Square. What a babe!

Mapping History: 1200 ceramic tiles individually designed by Cathedral Quarter visitors and businesses and brought together by artist Eleanor Wheeler. Find it outside Taps 2 Spanish restaurant opposite the Cathedral Quarter's Merchant Hotel.

Voyage of St. Brendan: Look up at a wall on Garmoyle Street and see a sparkly mural depicting St. Brendan’s discovery
of America. Its 'Sailortown' setting, once the thriving hub of the city's docklands, couldn't be more appropriate.

Sheep on the Road: A flock of bronze bleeters parades outside the Waterfront Hall and provides small children, and precarious adults, with an impromptu seating area. And for that they must thank artist Deborah Brown who was inspired by her childhood memories of Co. Antrim's Cushendun.

To see more of the city's public art, click here.
[...]


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Established in 1984, and providing studio space for over 20 artists covering various career stages and creative media, QSS provides a bona fide work space and dedicated gallery showcasing its artists' work.

Look for the red brick city centre building whose door sign leads you to the third floor space.

There's no lift access, but it's worth the climb to view some truly innovative work from some of the best emerging and established Irish talent - including stalwarts such as Jack Packenham and Gerry Devlin - as well as a sprinkling of international artists who've made Belfast their home. [...]


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37-39 Queen St
tel. 9024 3145
Tues-Thurs 10:00 - 17:00
Rooms with a View
City-wide hotels are also getting in on the art act with specially commissioned pieces adorning their public and private spaces.

The Merchant Hotel
has several original artworks displayed in its foyer.

Malmaison Hotel (pictured above) reflects Belfast modern history with extremely eyecatching muralesque (have we invented a word?) photographic art dotted throughout the building.

The Wellington Park Hotel's Piper Bistro is dedicated to local artist Raymond Piper and features his potraits of local celebs. See how many you can name as you chow down here or in the hotel's aptly-named Arts Café.

Finally, Ten Square Hotel has named one of its suites after Terry Bradley - perhaps Belfast's most lauded contemporary artist.

Fear not if a suite slumber is beyond your budget... Bradley's strikingly vivid paintings can also be viewed at several of the city's private galleries.

Try the Ferrara or Eakin Galleries - both on the über artsy Lisburn Road.
[...]


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Shankill and West Belfast Arts and Heritage Trail
This cross-community arts initiative brings together over forty public works of art spread across this diverse area. Pick up a map at An Culturlann, Falls Road, or download here, and take a journey past many evocative statues, sculptures and buildings - each resonating with a deep-rooted local legacy.

Look out for Life Span - the Royal Victoria Hospital's DNA-inspired railing artwork depicting eleven decade-by-decade portraits spanning birth to 100 years. And Seat of Dreams, a hand-carved bench engraved with the faces of the Farset River Gods. Take a seat and admire the views of the Black Mountain. [...]


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University of Ulster School of Art & Design
Three big blue and red buoys stand outside this revamped home to over 1000 of the city's art students. The large foyer often has exhibitions showcasing their innovative work, so pop in and discover up-and-coming artists before they make it big. [...]


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York St.
tel. 08 700 400 700
WheelWorks
WheelWorks is a youth-based arts organisation providing artistic and creative opportunities for young people living in urban and rural communities and experiencing barriers to participating in the arts.

Recognising that youth arts can contribute to more than just personal development, the WheelWorks facilitates visual arts, music, drama, dance and multi-media and offers resources, equipment, materials and training to make projects happen.

To find out more, give them a call or check out their on-line gallery.
[...]


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tel. 9020 0850

Belfast Exposed
Northern Ireland's only dedicated photography gallery is a favourite haunt of the city's art students and another cool creative space in the thriving Cathedral Quarter. The gallery runs contemporary community-based and international photography exhibitions and houses over half a m [...]


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The Exchange Place, 23 Donegall St.
tel. 9023 0965

Open:
11:00-17:00
Sunday:
Closed
Monday:
Closed
Ormeau Baths Gallery
Belfast's scaled-down answer to the Tate is housed in a former Victorian public bathhouse. The exterior retains all its original features while the interior has been swathed in white to accommodate the changing exhibitions across its four galleries. Stock up on arty mags and coffee table tomes at the adhoc book shop. Definitely worth a visit when you feel reality closing in... all the more so because admission's free. [...]


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18a Ormeau Ave
tel. 9032 1402

Open:
10:00-17:30
Sunday:
Closed
Monday:
Closed