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What's on in the Arts
21st December, 2023
From festivals, to concerts, exhibitions and more. Here's your guide to What's On in the Arts....
The Out to Lunch Festival: The Out to Lunch Festival welcomes us into the new year with a range of comedy, music, talks and film events from 6-28 January. Highlights include:
The Sailortown Sessions feat. King Cedar, Ferna & Ciaran Lavery, presented by Snow Water
Sunday 7 January, 3.00pm (Ends 5.00pm)
Doors 2.30pm | Unreserved seating. £15.00
Mark Watson: Search
Sunday 7 January, 8.00pm
Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved seating. £15.00
Donal Ryan in Conversation
Thursday 11 January, 1.00pm
Doors 12.30pm | Unreserved seating. £10.00 (including Lunch)
Art is Long…Life is Short: An Evening of the Music of Ryuichi Sakamoto by Ruth McGinley
Tuesday 23 January, 8.00pm
Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved Seating. £15.00/£12.00
To view the programme visit www.cqaf.com
Belfast Children’s Festival: 8-16 March 2024. More information to follow the January 2024 launch. Visit www.youngatart.co.uk
Lyric Theatre: presents an exciting programme this autumn and winter with highlights including:
- Hansel & Gretel, 24 Nov 2023 – 6 Jan 2024. (Signed performance on 14th Dec)
You can get lost in a story, but sometimes, you may just find yourself there too. Join Hansel, his sister Gretel and a mischievous little mouse called Monty, as they tumble through their story book and into an enchanted forest of technicolour. Together with a host of woodland creatures they will take you on a magical journey to defeat the witch in her sweetie house.
Tara-Lynne O’Neill’s brand-new telling of this classic tale is a spectacular Christmas adventure full of heart for all the family. It's a brand-new original musical with amazing dancing, and unmissable songs by Katie Richardson.
Add a little magic to the festive season with a visit to the Lyric. Whether it's your very first Christmas show, or a Lyric family tradition, this wonderful live theatre experience will make magic memories.
- Grimes & McKee: Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas, 1 Dec 2023 – 6 Jan 2024. (comedy)
Join Grimes & McKee with an incredible ensemble cast at Darkwood Manor. Embrace the holiday spirit with a hint of the supernatural and prepare to be festively terrified.
Picture this: Christmas Eve, an eerie ancestral estate, and a TV psychic, Nancy Nugent, ready to livestream the mysteries lurking within. But what if the ghosts she hunts are too ghastly even for her? Intriguing secrets, elusive guests and a sprinkle of holiday spookiness will keep you glued to your seat throughout. It's all part of the festive shivers in Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas.
Join the Lyric for a merry and mischievous spooky evening that'll leave you entertained and thrilled.
The Lyric Theatre has also released details of their news season with highlights including:
25-27 Jan 2024: WHISK(E)Y WARS: Love dry wit? Raw emotion? A rollercoaster of a story? This is a ‘blistering’ dysfunctional family saga set in the 8 generation Kingdom of Mourne Distillery, Newcastle, County Down, now run by an Ulster brethren woman. Men, women, whiskey… now, what’s not to love?!
An award-winning creative, Joyce Greenaway is one of the seven NI artists who were supported at the Edinburgh Fringe 2023 by Theatre and Dance NI, Arts Council NI, British Council NI & Belfast International Festival. She has worked at The Royal Court and major regional theatres with debbie tucker green (truth and reconciliation), Sandi Toksvig (QI), Georgia Pritchett (Succession) and Alice Birch (Normal People) and gamers might recognise hers as Abrasive Genius, the only NI voice in Ubisoft’s WATCH DOGS: LEGION.
WHISK(E)Y WARS was recently placed in the top 10% of the BBC Writersroom Open Call 2023.
31 Jan – 3 Feb 2024: Belfast Girls. Escaping the Famine in 1850 five fierce young women board the Inchinnan in Belfast in hope of a new, better life in Australia. But confined in close quarters in the belly of the ship on a tumultuous sea journey as they sail away from their homeland secrets are revealed, enemies made, and it becomes clear that no matter where they go, there is no escaping the dark pasts they carry with them…
In the Irish premiere of this new drama by award-winning Dundalk playwright Jaki McCarrick, An Táin Arts Centre and Quintessence Theatre bring their unique physical ensemble style to McCarrick’s gripping story, exploring urgent, current questions around classism, patriarchy, and the ripple effects of colonialism through a powerful historical play based on true stories.
3 Feb – 2 Mar 2024: Little Women. Step into the world of sisterhood, courage, and ambition with our latest theatre production of Little Women, originally penned by Louisa May Alcott and masterfully adapted by Anne-Marie Casey. Under the skilful direction of Emily Foran, experience the enduring journey of the March sisters - Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy - as they navigate the challenges of the Civil War era, forging unbreakable bonds of love and family. Join the Lyric Theatre for this heart-warming and captivating rendition of Little Women that breathes new life into a cherished classic.
7 Feb: I am Maura. From the creative team behind the smash hit 'The Gap Year', Commedia of Errors present this hilariously heartfelt look at young love from the eyes of a Belfast teenager. Presented at the Belfast Children’s Festival this pocket-rocket play is back on tour for generations young and old to enjoy.
16-17 Feb: Rebecca Caine: Dividing Day. Join soprano Rebecca Caine, accompanied by Nathan Martin, for a journey of self-discovery with help from writers including Bernstein, Bucchino, Guettel, La Chiusa, Sondheim, Weill and Yeston. Rebecca Caine is an international opera singer and actress who created the role of Cosette in Les Miserables for the RSC and was a celebrated Christine Daae in Phantom of the Opera in the West End and her native country, Canada. Her operatic credits include the roles of Lulu, Vixen, Marguerite, Violetta, Susanna for companies such as English National Opera, Glyndebourne, Nice, Glimmerglass and Scottish Opera.
For further details on these and to view all events visit www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
Grand Opera House: presents an exciting series of shows including,
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, on now until 14 Jan 2014.
Northern Ireland’s largest pantomime is back for another magical year at the Grand Opera House, Belfast with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This year’s show will be spectacularly brought to life from page to stage by a talented cast and creative team and features the Grand Opera House pantomime hallmark of an abundance of comedy, sensational songs and dance numbers, fabulous costumes, stunning scenery, and special effects. Belfast’s much-loved pantomime dame, May McFettridge, as May of the Mirror celebrates her record-breaking 33rd Grand Opera House panto season this year.
Elf In Belfast, An Adult Christmas Comedy, on now until 30 Dec 2023.
Growing up, Mucker always felt different to everyone else in Belfast. Whilst his mates wore Adidas and listened to Techno, Mucker liked to line-dance to ‘Hit the Diff’. It was clear, the dad he never knew, was a full-on culchie. After his mum reveals his long-lost dad was a Castle Court security guard, Mucker sets out to be reunited and secures himself a festive job as an ‘Elf’ in the shopping centre’s Christmas Grotto. There he finds himself falling hopelessly in love with Jodie, a fellow Elf and aspiring dancer.
Will Mucker ever find his real Dad? Or does he even care now that he’s found happiness with Jodie? Find out in this hilarious adult comedy from Diona Doherty and Sean Hegarty, writers of Bridesmaids of Northern Ireland, and last year’s Christmas Studio show, Home Malone.
Other shows coming up in 2024 include:
23-27 Jan 2024: The Full Monty
6-10 Feb 2024: The Drifter’s Girl
14-17 Feb 2024: Cupid’s Bow by Northern Ireland Opera
21-24 Feb 2024: The Juniper Tree by Northern Ireland Opera
27 Feb – 2 Mar 2024: The Mouse Trap
6-9 Mar 2024 – Madagascar
12-16 Mar 2024: An Officer and a Gentleman
22-30 Mar 2024: This Sh*t Happens All the Time by NI playwright Amanda Verlaque
For tickets and to view the full programme please visit www.goh.co.uk
Strand Arts Centre: presents films and events, visit www.strandartscentre.com
The Playhouse in Derry-Londonderry: presents a series of events this autumn with highlights including,
Foyle Foodbank Christmas Appeal.This Christmas The Playhouse is delighted to be a drop off point for Foyle Foodbank 's Christmas Appeal.
The Playhouse and Northern Ireland Opera presents:
27 Jan 2024 ‘Les Nuits D’Éte’ and ‘A Chloris and other mélodie’.
French songs by Berlioz and Hahn exploring universal themes of love and loss. 'Les Nuits' performed by mezzo Jenny Bourke, 'A Chloris and other melodie' performed by soprano Anna Gregg with pianist Bryan Evans.
Les Nuits d’Été or Summer Nights is a song cycle in a staged performance by soprano Mary McCabe and pianist Bryan Evans with a performance of À Chloris and a selection of mélodie by Reynaldo Hahn.
‘À Chloris’ is a setting of a poem by the French poet Théophile de Viau (1590-1626). Hahn’s song was composed in 1916 and speaks of a shepherdess named Chloris, portraying her as the epitome of beauty and grace. Hahn’s compositional style is often associated with the French mélodie tradition, which emphasizes the fusion of poetry and music: a selection of mélodies will also be performed during this Salon Series event including ‘Si mes vers avaient des ailes‘, ‘L’heure exquise‘, ‘Le Rossignol des lilas‘, ‘L’énamourée‘ and ‘Mai‘. This will be performed by soprano Anna Gregg with pianist Bryan Evans.
Hector Berlioz originally wrote Les Nuits d’Été, based around Théophile Gautier’s poems, for a mezzo or tenor and piano, though it is more well known in its orchestral version. ‘Les Nuits d’Été’ is Berlioz’s only song cycle published as a set. The songs explore the universal themes of love and loss and will be performed in French by mezzo soprano Jenny Bourke with pianist Bryan Evans.
English translations will be available for the audience.
CATCH THE REST OF THE SERIES
Experience a set of staged concerts in the round until May 2024. From short opera, song cycles, cabaret to musical theatre from the golden age, each event will take you into a world of beautiful music, drama and emotion in the special, intimate surroundings of The Playhouse.
All productions fully staged with singers in costume, accompanied by a pianist.
2 March 2024 – Sea Wrack
20 April 2024 – The Lost Boy
Visit www.derryplayhouse.co.uk
Linen Hall Library: the Linen Hall Library is a truly unique institution. Founded in 1788, it is the oldest library in Belfast. The library is free for all to enter and enjoy. The Linen Hall Library offers a year-round programme of arts and cultural events featuring authors, academics, historians, performers, and much more. To view the full events programme visit www.linenhall.com
Millennium Forum Derry-Londonderry: presents music, comedy, theatre and more with highlights including:
Jack and the Beanstalk, 30 Nov – 31 Dec. A gigantic beanstalk, Caroline the cow, magic beans, a goose that lays golden eggs and the nastiest of giants – it’s panto time again at the Forum with Jack and the Beanstalk on
from 30 Nov-31 Dec 2023. Telling the story of peasant boy Jack and his attempts to please his impoverished mother and win the hand of Princess Jill, JACK AND THE BEANSTALK remains one of the best-loved pantomimes of all time. Packed with great song and dance routines, hilarious comedy, dazzling scenes and magical special effects. Signed performances on Wednesday 6 Dec at 7pm, and an audio described performance on Sunday 17 Dec at 2pm. Visit www.millenniuforum.co.uk
Ulster Orchestra, The Magic of Christmas, 20 Dec
Moves and Melodies, 18 Jan 2024, an age-friendly and dementia-friendly workshop for adults that involves song and dance.
Dementia-friendly Tea Dance, 25 Jan 2024
Professor Brian Cox, 25 Jan 2024
Energy of Light Disco, 26 Jan 2024 (over 15s)
The Ferryman, 15 Feb 2024
Visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk
THE MAC: presents a fantastic programme of theatre, comedy music and talks with highlights including:
19 Oct – 14 Mar, Queer Set Dancing. Come along to a Queer Set Dancing class with Alexa Moore. Part of the MACtivate programme, in association with The Rainbow Project, the MAC’s fortnightly Queer Set Dancing class with Alexa Moore is specifically beginner-friendly. Join Alexa and the group from 6.30pm-8.30pm for a fun class with no expectation of any prior dancing experience. The class is run by a queer woman and we aim to create a welcoming and friendly environment for LGBTQ+ people and allies to learn a new dance, have some fun, and meet new people. Come along when you can - you don't need to have joined from the first date to attend. All welcome.
The Night Before Christmas, on now until 7 Jan 2024. The MAC’s Christmas show for 2023 is a brand new MAC tale, The Night Before Christmas. 'Twas the night before Christmas and the air was thick with excitement...Not least amongst the fairy tale characters who, no longer content with living in the pages of your favourite books, jump up, out and into the real world in our brand new family Christmas show The Night Before Christmas. Meet a storyteller who loses her words, plus lots of characters from your favourite fairytales, in this festive fable about the power of stories. Written by Stephen Beggs and Simon Magill. Produced by the MAC.
Are Yule Being Served, on now until 31 Dec 2023 (Age 18+). Christmas... It’s the most wonderful time of the year – unless you work in hospitality! Just ask the staff at the Wind Yer Neck Inn. Booked up with feuding families, festive functions, and frisky punters. Chaos is on the menu this year. With split-shifts and splitting headaches, will the staff make it through the busy season without being tipped over the edge? Let The MAC serve you up a brand new Christmas comedy written by and starring Caroline Curran (of Maggie Muff fame), and a stellar cast of Rhodri Lewis and Patrick Buchanan. Perfect for your festive night out, don’t be wait(tressing) around - book your tickets now!
Teechers by John Godber. 25 Jan – 10 Feb 2024. Directed by Lisa May. ( Age 12+). Fast-moving, inventive and highly entertaining, Teechers is John Godber’s brilliant take on life at a modern Comprehensive. Through their hilarious end-of-term play, three Year 11s exuberantly sketch the new drama teacher’s progress through two terms of recalcitrant classes, cynical colleagues, and obstructive caretakers. Disillusioned, he departs for the safe waters of a private school and leaves behind his students, whose youthful irreverence gives way to despair. Brought to the stage by Bruiser Theatre Company with high energy, break-neck comedy, and breathtaking ensemble performances, Teechers is a modern classic with something vital to say about education for the 'haves' and 'have nots'.
For all this and more visit www.themaclive.com to view a full programme of events and exhibitions.
DU Dance (NI): presents Belfast Boys, physical dance theatre for boys aged 7-11 years at the Crescent Arts Centre. Classes at 2-3pm every Saturday. No experience is necessary. Book at info@dudanceni.com
Crescent Arts Centre: presents a series of language, visual arts, craft, music, dance classes, and more plus workshops and events. Visit www.crescentarts.org for details.
Seamus Heaney HomePlace: has releases details of their Autumn/Winter programme. Taking place from Sep-Dec 2023 at Seamus Heaney HomePlace, the programme is overflowing with brilliant musicians, poets, authors, and artists. Highlights include:
- 27 Jan, John Hume, The Persuader: Stephen Walker in Conversation
- 3 Feb, Find Your Voice in Stillness with Deirdre Cartmill
- 10 Feb, Film screening of Ballywalter with Q&A
- 15 Feb, Five Days: written and performed by Joe Nawaz
- 9 Mar, The Book Who Wanted to be Loved, a reading and workshop for World Book Day
- 4 Apr, Dara McNulty in conversation with Marie-Louise Muir
- 12 Apr, An evening with Irvine Welsh
- 14 Apr, Jan Carson in conversation
- 27 Apr, Lemn Sissay
- 29 Apr, Ulster Orchestra on Your Doorstep – Villa Italia!
To view the full programme visit www.seamusheaneyhome.com for tickets and information.
Declan McConaghy Show: Newry based former BBC broadcaster, Declan McConaghy has created a new series of short films where he talks in-depth to creatives from Newry and the surrounding area who have made a contribution to theatre, music, dance and the performing arts in general. The view the films visit https://www.facebook.com/DMCSHOW ) or https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaH9LxmhE8O1Af3Csk-k6vA
Northern Ireland Opera: presents,
Cupid’s Bow, a host of wonderful and recognisable characters from opera come to ‘Cupid’s Bow, a bar where they can share their stories and some arias. A brand-new event conceptualised by Cameron Menzies for Valentine’s Week at the Grand Opera House Studio, 14-17 February 2024.
The Juniper Tree: A new production of the opera by Philip Glass and Robert Moran, based on a Grimm’s fairytale, coming to the Grand Opera House Studio 21-24 February 2024.
NI Opera’s new Salon Series are one act productions featuring opera, art song, cabaret and music theatre, which will be touring different locations in Northern Ireland during 2024 including the Playhouse Derry-Londonderry and The MAC in Belfast.
Les Nuits d’Été & À Chloris: 20 January 2024 7.45pm, Downstairs at The MAC, £30/£14 concessions & 27 January 2024 8pm, The Playhouse, Derry/Londonderry, £20
Sea Wrack: 2 March 2024, The Playhouse, Derry/Londonderry, £20
Mussorgsky’s‘Songs and Dances of Death‘ & Mahler’s ‘Kindertotenlieder‘: 23 March, 7.45pm, Downstairs at The MAC, £30/£14 concessions
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered with soprano Wendy Ferguson and pianist, Ruth McGinley: 13 April 2024, 7.45pm, Downstairs at The MAC, £30/£14 concessions & 25 May 2024, 8pm, The Playhouse, Derry/Londonderry, £20
The Lost Boy with vocalist, Conor Quinn: 2 December, 8pm, Upstairs at The MAC, £22/£14 & 20th April 2024, 8pm, The Playhouse, Derry/Londonderry, £20
Visit www.niopera.com for details
Belfast Music Society (BMS): presents,
BMS Chill, 0-13 years and 14 Years plus, at the Crescent Arts Centre on 9 Dec (Christmas edition), 27 Jan & 24 Feb.
Belfast Music Society presents an afternoon of accessible high quality classical music for people with additional needs and their families. Join RiChmusicNI as they create both a stimulating and soothing environment for children and adults alike. People are very welcome to come and familiarise themselves with the space 30 minutes before the concert starts. NB: Tickets are £5 per person with an access companion/PA. Please let BMS know of any accessibility or additional needs so they can make this experience as enjoyable as possible. Email: info@belfastmusicsociety.org
Visit www.belfastmusicsociety.org
Portico of Ards
visit www.porticoards.com
Ulster Orchestra: presents their new 2023/24 Season which is on sale now.
12 Jan, Britain and Brahms.
16 Jan, Classics for Lunch – Out to Lunch Festival.
18 Jan, BBC Radio 3 New Music Show - Invitation Concert. Award-winning cellist Natalie Clein OBE takes to the stage with the Ulster Orchestra as soloist in the world-premiere of the BBC commissioned concerto Mná from Northern Irish composer, Arts Council NI Major Individual Artist awardee and Professor in Composition at the Royal College of Music, Dr Deirdre Gribbin.
26 Jan, Light Music. This concert will fend off the chill of winter! Michael Collins is the soloist for Weber’s sprightly, playful Clarinet Concerto No. 2 and Haydn’s final symphony is a joyous showcase of all his innovative writing. There is also a World Première of Simon Mawhinney’s elegy, A Pillar of Light for Haydn, an uplifting celebration of the life of a friend’s teenage son.
31 Jan, On Your Doorstep, Armagh.
2 Feb, On Your Doorstep, Strabane.
3 Feb, The Two of Us: The Songs of Lennon & McCartney.
Visit www.ulsterorchestra.com for the full programme and to book tickets.
Oh Yeah Centre Belfast:
The NI Music exhibition at Oh Yeah is the only permanent exhibit for popular music in Northern Ireland. There is much to see, including a series of storyboards documenting and plotting the history and the stories of Folk, Punk, Rock, Jazz and more. Exhibition Opening Times, Mon – Fri: 10am-4pm, Sat: 12-5pm. To enquire about a visit, or for further info and group bookings please contact info@ohyeahbelfast.com or call 02890310845
Moving On Music: presents,
21 Jan, Ban Bam – Meliana Gillard, Bianca Gannon & Carole Nelson, Crescent Arts Centre
4 Feb, Mary Ocher, Black Box
28 Mar, Mary Lattimore, St Joseph’s Church, Sailortown, Belfast
3 Apr, Jolie Holland and Band, Black Box
11-14 Apr, Tour – McGoldrick, McCusker, Doyle
Visit www.movingonmusic.com
The Black Box: presents a varied programme of music, comedy, street art tours and other arts events.For further information n visit www.blackboxbelfast.com
Scott’s Jazz Club: Scott's Jazz Club runs a weekly concert in Ballyhackamore club 1a Sandown Road every Friday Night from 9pm. The club provides a welcoming environment for world class jazz music to be experienced in a concert setting. For upcoming performances visit Scott's Jazz Club (scottsjazzclub.com)
ITMA: 'Drawing from the Well' is an online monthly ITMA series which connects artists with archival materials to inspire new art. To date, nine videos, podcasts and blogs have been created by leading traditional musicians, singers, and dancers, including Louise Mulcahy, Martin Hayes, Edwina Guckian and Cormac Begley. All episodes are free to view online at https://www.itma.ie/drawingfromthewell
Tommy Sands and Artsawonder: In this new online film series, legendary musician, Tommy Sands, films, sings, listens and learns from a singing five times world champion drum major Alan McBride, two young women, Jenna Stevenson and Wendy Graham Hanna, who initiate and drive an Arts hub shop, a rhythmic drum weaver rhythmic drum weaver Damien McKeown and a young woman Bronagh Kelly who lovingly echoes the poetry of her mother. To watch visit Media | Artsawonder (wixsite.com)
Tumble Circus: present their Winter Circus at Writer’s Square in Belfast from 15 Dec 2023 – 4 Jan 2024. Join Tumble Circus for circus, comedy and fun. Winter Circus is high skill, all human and all thrill featuring death defying aerialists, acrobats and juggles. Winter Circus is Belfast’s alternative festival extravaganza for all the family, all performed in a heated big top. Visit www.tumblecircus.com
University of Atypical: is offering a new series of Digital Horizon Masterclasses with registration now open. All masterclasses are free with lunch included, and access needs will be met. Classes include:
Experimenting creatively with sound recordings with Sinead O’Neill Nicoll, Friday 26 January, 10:30am-4:30pm. Register at https://forms.gle/8XxBdSCf8xLR2mpC6
For full details visit https://issuu.com/uoat/docs/digital_horizon_a5_booklet_forweb
Crescent Arts Centre: has a new term of classes to book and enjoy now. Fancy learning to speak some Italian before your holiday to Italy this year? Well now’s your chance! From visual arts, language classes, acting, dance, music making and more, there’s something to tantalise all tastes. Visit www.crescentarts.co.uk
Duncairn: presents live music from the following,
- 13 Jan, First Fortnight: Sammy Copley, Raymond Antrobus, Scott McKendry & Stephen James Smith
- 26 Jan, Brídín, contemporary folk harpist, singer and composer BRÍDÍN, carries on the tradition of Irish music into the fourth generation of her family.
- 27 Jan, Josh O’Keefe
- 2 Feb, Rónán Ó Snodaigh & Myles O'Reilly
Visit www.theduncairn.com
Duncairn Player: all of the previous video projects can now be viewed from the Duncairn Player including The Duncairn Virtual Cabaret, Take 2, Carlingford and the Ring of Guillion Sessions. Visit Player — The Duncairn
The Duncairn also has a range of workshops and craft classes and courses. For further details visit www.theduncairn.com
Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich: presents,
Irish Language Intensive Course. Intensive courses are a great way to boost your language skills in a short space of time. The course will be both motivating and informative and will take your confidence in the Irish language to another level. The levels we offer are: Bunrang|Beginner , Meanrang | Intermediate , Ardrang | Advanced . Please email sinead@culturlann.ie for more information
For this and more visit www.culturlann.ie
Greater Shantallow Community Arts: presents Spill The Tae Youth Led Podcast from the young people at Studio2/GSCA. This amazing group of creative young people have launched their very own podcast and it can be found on Spotify or Apple Podcast. The young people plan, host, interview and edit the Podcast. To date they have interviewed some of their local MLA’s, Councillors, survivors and local Derry’s own Serena Terry, creator of Mammy Banter. As well as this they have a voice and a safe place where they can openly talk about mental health and what it means to them. You can find the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcast but also by clicking this link below.
https://shows.acast.com/spill-the-tae-youth-led-podcast
Eden Place Arts Centre: in Derry-Londonderry has an exciting range of courses and workshops to get your creative juices flowing including wood sculpture, Inner Landscapes, Abstract Art, Ceramics, Painting for Beginners, Contemporary Botanical Watercolours, Landscape Painting Life Painting, Spinning and Weaving plus Portrait Painting, among others. All courses are designed for adults aged 18+. Visit www.edenplaceartscentre.com
WheelWorks Arts: presents,
ArtCart: Unique to WheelWorks Arts (WWA) is their ArtCart community engagement and outreach programme, which brings creative and artistic activities to your community. ArtCart is also the name WWA gives to its bespoke vehicle that can travel across Northern Ireland and transform into a unique workshop space. ArtCart is available for hire at youth, community, education, and festival events, bringing artistic and creative activities to the community. The available inventive activities cover digital and traditional arts and can include animation, DJing/music making, arts & crafts, and digital arts using augmented and virtual reality. For further information and to hear about their special Art Cart offers over Christmas, visit https://www.wheelworksarts.com/artcart or email artcart@wheelworksarts.com.
TS3 Programme: The Tech Studio Skills Share (TS3 programme) is a new initiative by WheelWorks Arts (WWA) that offers training to help people improve their creativity and skills in digital communication by harnessing the specialist artistic expertise of the WWA team. The staff team at WWA consists of professional artists and digital innovators who have a wealth of knowledge, talent, and experience in delivering creative activities. They are now offering a range of training opportunities to the corporate and commercial sectors. For further information, visit https://www.wheelworksarts.com/ts3-training.
TechStudio: This is a 60m2 meeting room and collaboration space available for hire at our office in Weaver's Court, close to Belfast city centre (BT12 5GH). The room is equipped with a range of digital and recording resources, including cameras, green screens, tripods, iPads, and an interactive whiteboard, all available for hire. For pricing and to book the TechStudio, please use our online booking system. For further information, visit https://www.wheelworksarts.com/room-hire or email info@wheelworksarts.com or business@wheelworksarts.com.
ChangeMaker: This is a programme by WWA that connects people from diverse communities with varied identities within organisations, communities, or geographical areas. It encourages open dialogue, exploration, and recognition of differences to foster mutual inclusion, enhance interpersonal understanding, and ultimately boost inter and intra-community cohesion. The programme explores perceptions, stereotypes, and misconceptions that workshop participants may have, with a view to understanding other contributors' values, heritage, biases, and experiences, and why people may have certain views or stereotypes. It also highlights how many of these perspectives may be unintentional, unconscious, and often unchallenged. For more information, contact Lesley@wheelworksarts.com.
Streetwise Community Circus: Fancy learning how to juggle and other circus skills?! In response to Covid 19 Streetwise Community Circus has developed a team of tutors who are now working via Zoom to reach out to those who can no longer participate in workshops. To take advantage of this opportunity all you have to do is email Streetwise on streetwiseathome@gmail.com. Suitable for participants who range in age from 8 to 80 plus.
Arts Care:
has a wonderful range of arts activities available online on their Arts Care 4U Premium +, their online arts delivery channel that everyone can access. Arts Care’s new dedicated online arts and well-being workshop resource, ‘Break-Time’, accessed via their website to support the mental, emotional and physical well-being of children and young people through the Arts. New art, music, dance & exercise, drama, creative writing and clown doctor’s CDTV videos will be uploaded regularly and it’s all FREE. Visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ85xLA2BlQQdrnWBhKw1hw
Ards Arts Centre: Why not visit The Collection, an exhibition of curated works from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Collection. The exhibition runs from 7 Dec 2023 – 27 Jan 2024 and features new acquisitions and local Ards artists. Visit www.andculture.co.uk
142nd Royal Ulster Academy Exhibition at the Ulster Museum: The RUA Annual Exhibition is one of the most eagerly anticipated exhibitions in the Northern Irish cultural calendar, providing a unique platform for acclaimed artists and emerging talent to showcase their artwork in the fabulous galleries at the Ulster Museum. The exhibition contains examples of painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, video and more. The must-see exhibition is free to view and is now on, continuing until 1 January 2024. Visit www.belfastinternationalartsfestival.com
Belfast Exposed: presents,
Gallery 1: Victor Sloan, 12 Oct – 23 Dec 2023.
Belfast Exposed presents Beyond, a new survey exhibition of work from world renowned Irish visual artist Victor Sloan. Containing both some of Sloan’s iconic works and a series of never before exhibited images and video pieces, Beyond gives audiences a chance to view a broad survey of work from one of Ireland’s major artists, spanning Sloan’s entire career. The exhibition features both Sloan’s trademark hand-manipulated conceptual images and a range of his documentary photography and video pieces.
The work has a strong international theme, with images from Berlin, Poland, Germany, The Golan Heights, Syria and Jordan displayed, alongside pieces from Northern Ireland. Victor Sloan's Beyond is the highlight exhibition. Beyond will be in Gallery I from Thursday 12th October until Thursday 21st December 2023.
Belfast Exposed's Big Christmas Photo Sale, provides the opportunity for anyone with a passion for photography to have their own work exhibited while also being available for sale, with proceeds going towards Mitchell House School in east Belfast. Pieces will be on display from 21 November to 23 December. Visit www.belfastexposed.org
The MAC: presents,
Niamh McCann: ‘someone decides, hawk or dove’. 8 Dec 23 – 7 April 24. 'someone decides, hawk or dove' is a commissioned work by artist Niamh McCann as part of the programme for ART:2023, a Decade Of Centenaries supported by The Arts Council of Ireland/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
The title of the exhibition 'someone decides, hawk or dove' is a line from the poem Hairline Crack in Belfast poet Ciaran Carson’s 1989 collection Belfast Confetti. Hairline Crack is also the title of a film central to this exhibition which comprises of three acts with two musical interludes. An eyeless dog guides us through three separate landscapes: one bucolic, one musicological and one socio-political, in an odyssey along the border region of Northern Ireland. Like a mythological seer, this eyeless dog perceives and interprets obscure truths, through philosophical musings on Man’s long hubristic dominion over beasts, places, people. Visit www.themaclive.com
Belfast Print Workshop - buy framed prints by BPW members working across a range of techniques, supported by The National Lottery, www.bpw.org.uk
Queen Street Studios, Belfast. www.queenstreetstudios.net
Seacourt Print Workshop present their annual Members Christmas Exhibition at the Old Ulster Bank building, 75 Main Street, Bangor. The exhibition is open until 12 January 2024. Visit www.facebook.com/seacourtprintworksshop
Craft NI Gallery presents:
The Christmas exhibition, 'Ag925 - Au750 / Journeys in Silver and Gold' and the Big Bauble Showcase.
November 2 - December 30
Come along and immerse yourself in the makers' creative journeys in silver and gold; or enjoy this year's clever bauble designs and bring the delights of the handmade into your celebrations. Big Bauble Showcase is a yearly staple at Craft NI Gallery, featuring a wide range of unique handmade baubles, in limited ranges or one-offs. The event is a highlight for visitors who come back each year to add to their collection.
Their Christmas exhibition, Ag925 /Au750 / Journeys in Silver and Gold will show new work from NI makers and a few special guests. Conveying the idea of precious metals but also hinting at creative journeys and innovative ways to incorporate these metals and/or colours in new work, and sometimes unexpected materials, we hope this unique selling exhibition will bring a glow to the shortest days of the year.
Exhibiting makers: Abbie Dixon, Aisling Higgins, Alison Lowry, Andrea Hayes, Anna Donovan, Anne Earls Boylan, Ariel Lavian, Caitlin Murphy, Cara Murphy, Celine Traynor, Claire Mooney, David Cousley, Fiona Kerr, Gail Kelly, Irene McBride, Jackie McMaster, Joel Smyth, Kathleen Walsh, Maggie Napier, Patricia Kelly, Ruth Osborne, Sarah Cathers, Shannon McShane
Visit www.craftni.org
Golden Thread Gallery: While they temporarily ‘go dark’, GTG is delighted that their programme of free workshops for all ages will also continue in collaboration with The Naughton Gallery at Queens. Starting from October, their workshops for families and kids, and for teens and adults, will take place in the Lanyon Building at QUB. As always, all materials will be provided, plus snacks. Dates and times may vary. Full details will be shared on the GTG website and social media in advance. Workshops are free but please book your place by emailing. And make sure you’re on their mailing list to be the first to know! For further information visit www.goldenthreadgallery.co.uk
Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich: presents,
Exhibition - Recent Diagrams and Proposals: Duncan Ross, on now until 11 Jan 2024.
Recent Diagrams and Proposals is an exhibition of printed drawings and wooden sculptural assemblages. The assemblages are produced from materials gathered in public spaces including an anarchist-run community park in North Belfast. The prints reproduce a series of pen and ink sketches made using a range of graphic techniques including esquisse, automatic drawing and technical draughting. Amongst other themes, these incorporate the artist’s interest in neurological routine, geomancy and box art.
Exhibition | A Slowly Fainting Memory and Love and Regret: Conor Wickham, on now until 11 Jan 2024.
A Slowly Fainting Memory and Love and Regret’ is an exhibition of drawn works from artist Conor Wickham. The Achillea maritima or Cottonweed, is a Mediterranean species at the edge of its range here in Ireland. One would have to travel to the west coast of France to next come across this vascular plant. The Saxifraga nivalis, more commonly known as the Alpine Saxifraga is found in the highest mountainous regions of most circumpolar countries. It endures at the extreme edge of its range on a limestone cliff in Co. Sligo. Visit www.culturlann.ie
VOID Gallery: presents, Áine Mac Giolla Bhríde, Nov 18, 2023 - Jan 27, 2024.
Void Art Centre is pleased to present the first solo exhibition by Áine Mac Giolla Bhríde in the UK. The exhibition takes place across the two galleries at Void Art Centre. Conventionally, of course, galleries are rooms dedicated to the viewing of art, but as spatial environments, they are often repurposed venues whose original function was not the presentation of artworks. The galleries of Void Art Centre are located on the ground floor of the building, in a large, glass-fronted space, once a commercial unit host to a variety of businesses throughout the building’s lifetime. In 2021 two rooms of the ground floor were restructured to approximate ‘white cubes’ and sit within the larger edifice or shell. Galleries can be seen as somewhat emblematic of the adaptive and resourceful use of existing architecture today.
VOID also has a range of learning opportunities available for all ages, such as talks, workshops and more, visit their website for full details.
Visit www.derryvoid.com
CCA: presents, Susan Hughes: Stones from a Gentle Place, 20 Jan – 16 Mar 2024.
The exhibition follows the artists’ encounter with bioluminescence while swimming in the sea at night, and her subsequent observation of how humans throughout history have made sense of natural phenomena, the stories associated with such occurrences, and the physical and cognitive effects on the body.
Susan’s research has expanded beyond bioluminescence (microscopic plankton ignited by movement) to fluorescent geology and Will ‘o the Wisp (phosphorescence caused by plants decaying in boggy ground). These phenomena are otherworldly, seemingly synthetic in their brilliance, independent combustion and neon colours. Alongside this, Susan has travelled across Ireland, connecting with archivists, storytellers, musicians and mariners, gathering folklore related to this natural phenomena in the landscape.
In the exhibition the artist plays with psychedelic and ambient lights, colours, materials and sounds in otherwise dark rooms. Analog and digital sit aside one another inviting the viewer to submit to a malleability of time, hard fact and fairy tale. Visit www.ccadld.org
ArtisAnn:
ArtisAnn Gallery, 70 Bloomfield Avenue, Belfast, BT5 5AE. All artworks are available to buy. You can also buy art through the Arts Council supported Own Art scheme which gives you an interest-free loan over 10 months. Visit www.artisann.org
