News Archive

Two young emerging artists have been chosen to represent Northern Ireland on an Indian adventure of discovery.

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has launched its Art Lending Scheme, a free Art Lending Scheme for curators, museums and galleries across Britain, Ireland and Europe that are interested in exhibiting works from its rich, contemporary art collection.

Stone sculptor, Sheena Devitt, from Killyleagh, County Down, has been awarded the Rosy James Memorial Trust Award, an annual craft bursary worth £15,000. The bursary, administered by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland on behalf of the Rosy James Memorial Trust, aims to assist craft makers to develop their professional careers by developing a new body of work which might otherwise have been unattainable.

Got some free time over the Christmas break? Here’s a round-up of some of the many arts events happening over the festive holidays, supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s National Lottery funds…

Damian Smyth, Head of Literature and Drama at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, picks out his top Christmas books for those last minute presents…

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has learned with regret of the death of Alexandra Hamilton, known as Sacha, Duchess of Abercorn, who has died at the age of 72. Sacha Abercorn is best known as the founder of the Pushkin Trust and for establishing the Puskin Prizes, a cross-community creative writing and arts programme in schools throughout Northern Ireland.

2018 has seen the Ulster Youth Orchestra mark its anniversary with a showcase tour to Vienna and Bratislava ending with a thrilling concert at the Ulster Hall in August and to close this special year, on Saturday 29th December, it will bring players from every one of its past 25 years together for what promises to be an electrifying evening!

Two writers, a composer and a playwright, have each been presented with Major Individual Awards (MIA), worth £15,000 each, from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the highest honour bestowed by the body responsible for the development of the arts in the region.

Jazzlife Alliance, a new arts company under the artistic direction of MOBO Award- nominated jazz musician, David Lyttle, has announced twins, Conor and Michael Murray, as the recipients of two jazz mentorships including a music promoter mentorship and a jazz musician mentorship, supported by National Lottery funding through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Award-winning American poet Mark Doty celebrated his post as the first International Visiting Poetry Fellow at a special reading at the end of November.