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Gift amazing Art to someone you love this Christmas

9th December, 2022

From music, books, craft and original art, to vouchers for a great play or concert, why not shop local and support artists this Christmas by giving someone you love an arts experience.

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has rounded up some great gift ideas for this festive season, supported by The National Lottery

Get crafty

Craft NI is a place where you can buy handmade work by some of NI’s most talented designer-makers. Whether you feel like treating yourself or others, there is so much to choose from! You can pick up a unique gift while knowing you have supported a local maker’s creative business. And for bigger or really special pieces, Craft NI Gallery is now part of the Arts Council’s ‘Own Art’ scheme, making beautiful contemporary craft easier to buy. Visit www.craftnigallery.org

Gift an amazing show

There are so many great shows on, The Out to Lunch Festival, The MAC, Portico of Ards, Lyric Theatre, Ulster Orchestra, Grand Opera House, Millennium Forum, Waterside Theatre and The Playhouse, all have fantastic performances on offer, so why not buy a ticket or pick up a voucher?


Music from Northern Ireland

There are so many Arts Council award-winning musicians with great albums out, check out Jack Warnock’s new album, Le Solas Faoithine, a collection of traditional songs and new melodies, available at www.jackwarnock.com; Roe, aka Roisin Donald’s debut album, That’s When The Panic Sets In, features 12 joyous tracks, available at roemusicofficial.bandcamp.com and AURA, a new album featuring a stunning collection of reimagined Irish Airs from Arts Council awardees Neil Martin and Ruth McGinley available at www.ruthmcginley.co.uk

Books galore

Books always make a great gift, check out James Conor Patterson’s Bandit Country (Picador), a debut poetry collection shortlisted for the TS Eliot Prize; Elaine Canning’s The Sandstone City (Aderyn Press), which revisits the Spanish Civil War and the new edition of John Hewitt’s Selected Poems, edited by the acclaimed poets, Michael Longley and Frank Ormsby. Available online and from all good bookshops.

Buy a dream art work

Own Art is an interest free loan scheme which makes buying a piece of art more affordable by spreading the cost over 10 months. Choose from jewellery, ceramics, paintings and more, visit www.ownart.org.uk

Also check out the Queen Street Studios Christmas Show & Sale from 3-20 December 2022 and buy art direct from local artists in their studios. www.queenstreetstudios.net

Pop along to Belfast Print Workshop’s Annual Members Christmas Exhibition to buy framed prints by BPW members working across a range of techniques. www.bpw.org.uk

Buy a new musical instrument

The Take It Away scheme offers the opportunity to buy a musical instrument, equipment or software, with an interest free loan repaid over 10 months. See http://artscouncil-ni.org/the-arts/performing-arts1/take-it-away for participating stores in Northern Ireland.