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23rd October, 2024
What's on in the Arts
1st November, 2024
From theatre performances, to concerts, exhibitions and more. Here's your guide to what's on in the Arts....
Belfast International Arts Festival: returns from 16 Oct – 23 Nov 2024 and the full programme is now available to view and buy tickets. Highlights include:
Cahoots: Mark 31st October – 2 November in your diary for the European premiere of, The Vanishing Elephant, presented by Northern Ireland theatre company, Cahoots, at the Grand Opera House, as part of the 2024 Belfast International Arts Festival. The show, which is supported by funding from The National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, received critical acclaim at its premiere in New York at The New Victory Theater in 2023, and now’s your chance to see this extraordinary show in Belfast!
This moving story of friendship and what it means to be ‘home,’ reflects on topics of migration, displacement, new beginnings and acceptance - all told through the eyes of an astonishing Asian elephant. Don’t miss this incredible show this autumn – buy your tickets now at www.belfastinternationalartsfestival.com
Visit www.belfastinternationalartsfestival.com for tickets and info.
Sound of Belfast: this year’s Sound of Belfast festival, run by the Oh Yeah Centre, marks its 10-year anniversary. Over ten days,7-17 November, a range of special performances will take place in unique venues across Belfast. This includes Lilla Vargen in the historic Linenhall Library, a specially commissioned Grace and Glory gospel music event at St. Rosemary’s Church led by the creators of Soultrane, a Sacred Sounds event at Shankill Mission which combines yoga with a live ambient DJ set, and a Factory Sessions set by ROE at a top secret location yet to be revealed.
On Friday, November 8, Oh Yeah hosts Breaking Into Music, an immersive one day experience aimed at 14-21 year olds which aims to empower Northern Ireland’s youth by unlocking the career potential of the arts. This event compliments Oh Yeah’s weekly “Volume Control” industry mentoring programme and “Elevate” after-school club which provide opportunities for young music enthusiasts to collaborate, make new friends and get advice from industry professionals. The work of the Volume Control team will be showcased that evening as they host the annual Clash of the New Breeds, a battle of the bands which is suitable for all ages to attend.
This year will see Sound of Belfast 2024 celebrate its status as a UNESCO City of Music by hosting the UK-wide PRS Foundation Talent Development conference for the first time. The flagship event of Sound of Belfast is the NI Music Prize on Wednesday, November 13, at the Ulster Hall, with an Oh Yeah Legend Award presented by PRS For Music to Thin Lizzy’s founding member Eric Bell, followed by a special performance. Sound of Belfast runs from November 7 to 17, are available via www.soundofbelfast.com
Belfast 2024: is an ambitious cultural celebration made by the people of Belfast and led by Belfast City Council. This programme will see the city come to life with creative projects, events and civic initiatives taking place across Belfast throughout the year. For more information visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/belfast2024
Brassneck Theatre Company: presents, Sleeping Beauty, 5-22 Dec at St Comgall’s. Brassneck Theatre Company are proud to present their spectacular version of “Sleeping Beauty” by Neil Keery. It's the same fairytale that everyone knows and loves, sprinkled with that unique, signature Brassneck twist. Book Now to see what audiences last year said was “The best panto in town”, “had us in stitches from start to finish” & “an undisputed highlight of the season”. Visit www.brassnecktheatrecompany.com
Kabosh: Belfast-based theatre company Kabosh will be performing a play celebrating the fearless early campaigners who fought for gay rights at a time when homosexuality was illegal. Callings celebrates the activism of the dedicated people who set up the helpline Cara-Friend 50 years ago to offer support and friendship to gay people living in fear of the State. The drama, written by current Lyric Theatre playwright in residence, Dominic Montague, is set in the offices of Cara-Friend in University Street five years after the helpline was set up, when the North of Ireland was the only part of the UK where homosexuality was still a criminal offence. Now Kabosh marks this special anniversary with a UK and Ireland-wide tour of this highly acclaimed play. Remaining dates on the tour schedule:
- Droichead, Drogheda: 2 Nov
- Garage, Monaghan, 3 Nov
- Project Arts Centre, Dublin: 6-9 Nov
For more information on the production and to get tickets go to www.kabosh.net
Primecut Productions: Prime Cut Productions presents the premiere of Aurora: A Modern Myth at The MAC Theatre, 24 October - 02 November, as part of Belfast International Arts Festival. Directed by critically acclaimed Emma Jordan, this brand-new work which includes a cutting edge animation and immersive theatre experience along with groundbreaking work by artist Dominic Montague, is sure to be a highlight of this year’s festival programme.
Written by Dominic Montague Aurora: A Modern Myth has been developed through Prime Cut’s groundbreaking artist development programme REVEAL* which invests in the development of independent artists at all stages of their career. Aurora: A Modern Myth uses cutting edge gaming animation and immersive theatrical visuals developed in partnership with Ulster University’s Gaming and Animation Department for audiences to discover a new and exciting theatrical experience. Visit www.primecutproductions.co.uk
Big Telly Theatre Company: presents Granny Jackson’s Dead, 31 October - 3 November 2024.
Granny Jackson’s Dead… but her story isn’t. Her family would like to invite all those who knew her to 47 Malone Road, (except the Kelly’s from the Glens, anyone from the council, Big Jim, Miss Gilmour, and Brendan – he knows what he did) to pay their respects and give her a good send off. She will be dearly missed by her devoted, adoring, clever, beautiful, hardworking, long-suffering, generous-to-a-fault daughter Susan, and by the rest of the family.
P.S. anyone who would like to connect with her, she will also be streamed across several platforms and mixed realities – Darren Jackson (grandson).
This performance uses flashing lights, loud noises, fire and immersive technology. Themes of death and grief.
Visit www.belfastinternationalartsfestival.com
Tinderbox: presents, YERMA, By Federico Garcia Lorca; New Adaptation by Patrick J O’Reilly, 10 Oct – 3 Nov. This October at the Lyric Theatre, as part of the Belfast International Arts Festival, the multi-award-winning Tinderbox Theatre Company are thrilled to premiere Patrick J O Reilly’s new adaptation of Yerma, a poetic and darkly tragic re-telling of maternal love, passion and obsession against the backdrop of the Cooley Mountains.
Against the shadows of the Cooley Mountains, a turmoil lurks beneath a family gathering. As Yerma and her husband navigate a family christening, their strained relationship is laid bare. Will Yerma's yearning for a child drive her to despair, or can she find a way to defy societal expectations? Experience Lorca's masterpiece of love, loss, and longing in this gripping production by the Tinderbox Theatre Company. Through a powerful combination of Lorca’s stunning words drenched in passion and visually stunning physical theatre, Yerma is sure to cement itself as a landmark piece of this year's theatrical calendar, one that will leave you reflecting long after the lights have faded. Visit www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
DU Dance: visit www.dudanceni.com
Lyric Theatre: presents an exciting programme of events including:
- 10 Oct-3 Nov, Yerma by Tinderbox Theatre Company
- 12 Oct – 10 Nov, The Tragedy of Richard III, a Lyric Theatre production
- 6-10 Nov, Chicken by Sunday’s Child
- 12 Nov, Bob Dylan’s Greatest Rejected Album Tracks: An Evening with Writer Michael Gray
- 13-17 Nov, Oh Whistle…Two Ghost Stories By M R James by Nunkie Theatre Company
- 16 Nov, Tim McGarry’s Ridiculous by David Hull Promotions
- 21-23 Nov, The Marian Hotel by Sole Purpose Productions
- 30 Nov – 11 Jan, step into the enchanting world of Charles Dickens' timeless classic, A Christmas Carol, joyously reimagined for the stage by the award-winning and much-beloved playwright, Marie Jones. Join the Lyric Theatre for a heart-warming journey through the streets of Victorian Belfast as audiences follow the journey of Ebenezer Scrooge. A Christmas Carol will take you on an unforgettable journey, so add a little magic to your festive season with a visit to the Lyric. Audio described performance, 14 Dec, captioned performance, 18 Dec, and signed performance on 19 Dec.
- 4-7 Dec, Gwyneth Goes Skiing, presented by Awkward Productions in association with The Pleasance
- 29 Jan – 2 Feb, Guy Mitchell’s Dog’s Dead – Pass it on, a Cock & Hens Productions in association with Bright Umbrella
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,
- 5-9 Nov: Shakespeare’s Women presented by Comedia of Errors. What if Ophelia met Juliet? Would she give her some relationship advice? What if Portia told Cleopatra to wise up? Headstrong, feisty and in the thralls of love, what can they learn from each other?
- Calla Hughes and Catherine Rees star as Juliet and Ophelia, or Jules and Fee for short. Watch as they probe Shakespeare’s best-known characters to learn a little more about themselves. Can Goneril give them strength? Cleopatra, power or Portia, guile? Could Hamlet be the key to unlocking who they are, what went wrong and why they’re still stuck playing their parts over and over forever more?
- Commedia of Errors is delighted to present this new production of their smash hit Shakespeare's Women. Fusing modern comedy and drama with classical verse, see Shakespeare and his favourite women in a brand-new light. Shakespeare’s Women deals with themes of: relationships, female empowerment, toxic masculinity, and suicide.
- 30 Nov – 12 Jan: The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan. A swashbuckling trip to Neverland like never before! Northern Ireland’s largest pantomime is back for another magical year with The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan. In a flash and with a twinkle of fairy dust, the Grand Opera House’s iconic stage magically transforms into Neverland for our most breath-taking, thrilling seasonal spectacular yet. The Theatre’s Christmas show has a well-established reputation as the hallmark of traditional family pantomime - an unmatchable fusion of fun, adventure, thrilling song-and-dance, and dazzling staging and effects. The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan sees the return of Belfast panto favourites May McFettridge as Mrs Smee, Paddy Jenkins as Starkey, Adam C Booth as Smee, Jolene O’Hara as Captain Hook and Aisling Sharkey as Wendy. They will be joined by Belfast local Jordan Walker as Peter Pan and Georgia Brierley-Smith as Tink.
For tickets and to view the full programme please visit www.goh.co.uk
Strand Arts Centre: The Strand Arts Centre has opened a new temporary home in Connswater Shopping Centre as it undergoes multi-million pound refurbishment. It will be hosting a range of activities and events over the coming weeks and months at Connswater including:
- Minors Club: Enjoy free films for the whole family, providing a fun outing for children and parents alike.
- Creative Arts Workshops: Engage in hands-on activities designed for all children and adults.
- Silver Screenings: Special movie sessions tailored for senior audiences, bringing classic cinema to everyone.
- Seasonal Cultural Classic Pop-Up Screenings: Celebrate various cultural seasons with fun and festive film screenings throughout the year.
- 8mm/16mm Film Club: Join the unique club for screenings and discussions around classic film formats.
visit www.strandartscentre.com
The Playhouse in Derry-Londonderry: presents a series of events with highlights including,
- Ulster Youth Opera workshops, 9 Nov, 9 Dec
- Tim McGarry – Ridiculous, 8 Nov
- Shakespeare's Women, 14 Nov
- Anne Gildea - How to Get The Menopause and Enjoy It, 13 Dec
- Gearóid Farrelly: Gearóid Rage, 28 Feb
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:
Moves and Melodies. Moves and Melodies is an age friendly project in the Millennium Forum that includes song and dance workshops for 60 people. This project will be provided complimentary and will be held once a month in the Studio Theatre. The music facilitator is Fiona Logue and the dance facilitators are Claire Harkin and Emma Lindsay from Emma Lindsay Dance. There will be an opportunity to learn new dance skills and sing a range of song styles every month. 2pm – 3.30pm. For further information contact Lisa Heaney on 028 7127 2779 or email lisah@millenniumforum.co.uk
Aladdin, 29 Nov – 31 Dec 2023. Join Millennium Forum at Old Peking where evil sorcerer, Abanazar, seeks the magic lamp to bring him untold wealth and power, and Aladdin must save the day. This magical adventure story will be brought to life in a spectacular production complete with stunning sets, beautiful costumes and lots of comedy. Conal Gallen returns as the Forum’s Dame in this all singing, all dancing festive show. With an all local and Northern Irish cast, this sparkling festive treat is guaranteed fun for all the family. Signed Performance on 4 December, a relaxed & dementia friendly performance on 7 December and an audio described performance on 22 December.
Visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk
THE MAC: presents a fantastic programme of theatre, comedy music and talks with highlights including:
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 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.
Elvis Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, 5-31 Dec 2024. The hilarious Caroline Curran returns to the MAC this December with a fantastic festive comedy show, Elvis Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. It’s now or never" for best mates Marty and Frankie who are die-hard Elvis fans, and all they want this Christmas is to go to their idols (tribute) concert before one of them leaves The Ghetto. Will these Hound Dogs escape or will prying Priscilla’s Suspicious Minds make them have a Blue Christmas. Come and join the gang that brought you last years hit, Are Yule Being Served? for a rocking new Christmas comedy, and let The MAC have you All Shook Up this Christmas!
For all this and more visit www.themaclive.com to view a full programme of events and exhibitions.
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: View the full programme at www.seamusheaneyhome.com
Northern Ireland Opera: presents, 13 November, 1pm, Ards Arts Centre, From Old to New - Ulster Scots Song. Come and explore how Ulster Scots song has changed over time: from folk song evolving into classical art song to folk song influences in contemporary song. This lunchtime concert will be performed by mezzo soprano Carolyn Dobbin and pianist Tristan Russcher, who will lead you on a path through the evolutions of Ulster Scots song across an hour of beautiful song and fascinating musical insights. Tickets cost £6 and includes tea and shortbread. Visit www.niopera.com
Moving on Music: presents,
- 10 Nov, La Tène
- 13 Nov, Julian Lage
Moving On Music is also delighted to present two of Northern Ireland’s finest classical musicians for a rare duo outing, flautist Aisling Agnew and harpist Richard Allen.
- Fri 22 Nov – Old Church Centre, CUSHENDUN
- Sat 23 Nov – Strule Arts Centre, OMAGH
Portico of Ards: presents
Handel’s Messiah by Merry Opera, 7 December. A staged production of Handel’s Messiah by the Merry Opera Company, featuring professional Northern Irish musicians. Twelve singers play characters who experience transformation from need and despair to understanding and hope as they sing this traditional work.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears, 15 December. It’s guaranteed to have hordes of children shrieking their delight at these enthralling words! The eternal appeal of this classic story makes this a golden opportunity to present this production from the North’s première producer of Christmas plays, with their usual values of family, entertainment, funny and immediate scripts, simple effects, live original music and strong performances.
To view the full programme visit www.porticoards.com
Ulster Orchestra: has revealed the programme for its new 2024/25 season which begins in September. View the full programme now and buy tickets on their website. Highlights include:
3 Nov, Presenting: Worlds of Fantasy – music from anime. Gaming, film and TV. This popular concert provides the perfect escapism on a Sunday afternoon, guiding you through some of the most exhilarating music from the worlds of fantasy that have been so impactful in creating atmosphere and excitement in cinema, anime, television or gaming. Hear music from Lord of the Rings, Wonder Woman, Halo, Top Gun: Maverick, Game of Thrones and many more!
14 Nov, More Than Mozart – On Your Doorstep: Riverside Theatre Coleraine. Following last year's sell-out performance, the Ulster Orchestra return to Coleraine with another exciting concert! An evening in the company of Michael Collins is one well-spent, as he brings his deeply-held musicality and mastery of both the clarinet and the conductor's podium to the Diamond Hall. This concert opens with Grażyna Bacewicz's vibrant, driving Concerto for String Orchestra, before Michael performs Crusell's Second Clarinet Concerto, full of exuberance and lyrical grace and Busoni's Concertino, a virtuosic 20th century tour-de-force written in the style of Mozart. And it's Mozart, with whom Michael has a special affinity, that closes the concert; the exhilarating pinnacle of all his symphonic writing, Symphony No. 4.
The Snowman Family Concert, 7 Dec, Waterfront Hall, Belfast. Don’t miss this wonderful family experience that has created special memories for many. Young and old will enjoy this timeless tale of a boy and his magical Snowman, shown on a big screen ad accompanied by the Orchestra and young guest soloists.
Ulster Orchestra, Handel’s Messiah, 14 December Waterfront Hall, Belfast with Belfast Philharmonic Choir, & 15 December, Guildhall, Derry~Londonderry with Codetta Choir. No Christmas would be complete without a performance of Handel’s Messiah. Still one of the best oratorios ever written, its impact and appeal never fails to delight audiences. If you have never heard it before, now is the time, especially when it’s performed by the Ulster Orchestra with guest soloists and choirs.
Ulster Orchestra, The Magic of Christmas, 17 December, Waterfront Hall, Belfast & 18 December, Millennium Forum, Derry~Londonderry. This magical concert is the perfect night out for the whole family featuring a dazzling programme of festive favourites such as Let It Snow and White Christmas. With guest vocalists – Northern Ireland’s own Dana Masters (renowned jazz singer who toured with Van Morrison) and Patrick Smyth (Strictly Come Dancing tour, John Williams Orchestra), this promises to be a truly special evening.
Visit www.ulsterorchestra.com
Oh Yeah Centre Belfast: presents a programme of music and tours with highlights including,
On Friday, November 8, Oh Yeah hosts Breaking Into Music, an immersive one day experience aimed at 14-21 year olds which aims to empower Northern Ireland’s youth by unlocking the career potential of the arts. This event compliments Oh Yeah’s weekly “Volume Control” industry mentoring programme and “Elevate” after-school club which provide opportunities for young music enthusiasts to collaborate, make new friends and get advice from industry professionals. The work of the Volume Control team will be showcased that evening as they host the annual Clash of the New Breeds, a battle of the bands which is suitable for all ages to attend.
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
Visit www.ohyeahbelfast.com
The Black Box: presents a varied programme of music, comedy, street art tours and other arts events with highlights including:
Dubinski, 8 November, 2024. Doors 8pm, £12. With support from The Pottingers & Lonely Astronauts.
For further information 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/drawingfro...
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: Belfast's award-winning forward thinking circus company, Tumble Circus has announced its return to Writer’s Square for a brand-new run of the hugely popular “Winter Circus” - kicking off on the 13th of December.
Winter Circus, now in its eighth successful year, will be hosted in Tumble Circus’ iconic heated big top tent in the central location of Writers’ Square, Belfast and tickets are now available.
Winter Circus has become a much-loved part of Belfast’s festive entertainment offering with many referring to its as he city’s Alternative Festive Family Show. Winter Circus will treat visitors to a winter extravaganza unlike anything else on offer in the city, with a host of death-defying and side-splitting acts to keep the audience on the edge of their seats and rolling in the aisles!
TICKET PRICES:
Children (12 years old and under) £12, full price £16, family £49, relaxed show £10.
Group bookings (10 and more)
Children (12 years old and under) £10
Full price £14
For discounted group bookings and complimentary tickets for carers available, please contact: bookings@tumblecircus.com
Open Arts: Stressful times!? Need a PAUSE?
Join Open Arts for relaxing Saturdays Gamelan's Sound Baths!
12/10, 9/11 14/12, 11- 12 am, Open Arts Space in Connswater (Ground floor in front of Del Piero's cafe). £6 per session!
Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScLvL6zc9zVqOxMHJyiN29SarbYSOB9ASMaEATC3oRKFsUEAA/viewform
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,
23 Nov, Suaimhneas: Caoilfhionn Rose & Sammy Copley
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
- Yoga Classes with Dunla, 6:30-7:30pm, £5. No need to register, just pay on arrival.
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.
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... 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....
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... 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.
Sole Purpose Productions: presents a tour of The Marian Hotel. The play is based on Caitriona Cunningham’s lived experience of being in Marianvale Mother and Baby home in Newry. It was developed over a year with Dramaturg Emily DeDakis and a cast of stellar local actors. It is a searing portrayal of a dark time in Irish history with a 70s/80s soundtrack. The Inquiry in the North of Ireland has just begun. This play is a call to all impacted to come forward and raise their voices so that they may never again be silenced and shamed for being human. The magnificent cast lead by Aoibh Johnson (The Daughters of Róisín, 5-star reviews at Edinburgh Fringe) will take you on a journey that is mesmerising and intensely moving.
Upcoming performances include:
- Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre, Armagh on 15th November 2024
- The Lyric Theatre, Belfast on 21st, 22nd and 23rd November 2024 with a matinee performance at 3pm on 23rd November.
Visit https://www.solepurpose.org/the-marian-hotel-1
Sole Purpose will also co-host the Sunflower Exhibition in the Linen Hall Library from 4-29 November. The Sunflower Project Exhibition brings together the writings, paintings and personal items of a group of women whose lives were deeply impacted by their experiences of these notorious institutions. Prints created by the women - Marie McGinn, Attracta McGuigan, Fiona O’Doherty, Carmel McCallion and Caitriona Cunningham - with the guidance of artist Brónagh Corr will be the main part of the exhibition.
The poignant exhibition also includes Christening robes, baby outfits knitted at the homes, and ornate tiles from the Marianvale mother and baby home in Newry. It is the result of two and a half years of workshops aimed at supporting the women to express themselves through drama and art, it provides a deep insight into the impact of the homes on the lives of the women and their babies.
For more information go to: www.solepurpose.org
Supported by Arts Council NI Commissioning Programme, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Foyle Foundation, Newry, Down and Mourne District Council. Sole Purpose is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Annual Funding Programme.
Craft NI will launch its Christmas exhibition, ‘Brilliant Generations’, and the 'Big Bauble Showcase’ - on Thursday, November 7 / Late Night Art, 6 - 9pm to the sound of live harp music!
The exhibition aims to inspire discerning shoppers with new, exciting work - at a time when the festive spirit is high. The exhibition will include handmade jewellery, ceramics, textiles and wood.
Located in the bustling Cathedral Quarter, Craft NI Gallery is set to be one of Belfast’s must-see Christmas shopping destinations this season, the Big Bauble Showcase will feature a large selection of handcrafted, unique or limited edition Christmas baubles in mediums such as glass, textiles, wood and ceramic.
Participating makers:
Andrea Spencer, Anna Donovan, Cameron & Breen, Céline Traynor, Fiona Kerr, Gail Kelly, Janice Gilmore, Joel Smyth, Natasha Rollinson, Rosemary McCartney, Scott Benefield, Séamus Gill, Sue Cathcart, Sylvia Dales, Tara Campbell, Tracey Johnston, Ursula McGivern.
Both events will run until December 30, 2024.
Ulster Museum/ Artist, Anushiya Sundaralingam: presents, Tappi Odu (Flee), a new and evocative installation on display at the Ulster Museum, supported by The National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The installation, which is now available to view until 15th December, explores the collective experiences of Tamil communities and diaspora populations and features images of footprints from countries across the globe. The renowned artist’s work examines the intricate connections between nature, culture, conflict, and identity and the Tappi Odu (Flee) installation highlights Anushiya’s journey of displacement and migration, drawing from her own experiences of relocating from Sri Lanka to England and eventually settling in Northern Ireland.
Royal Ulster Academy’s 143rd Annual Exhibition: is now on at the Ulster Museum with all artworks available to buy. The RUA Annual Exhibition provides a unique platform for acclaimed artists and emerging talent to showcase their artwork in the fabulous galleries of the Ulster Museum. The exhibition contains examples of painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, video and more. The must-see exhibition is free to view and continues until 6 January 2025 so it’s perfect to visit over the holidays! Visit www.belfastinternationalartsfestival.com
Queen Street Studios: to celebrate forty years of creativity in the heart of Belfast, Queen Street Studios present 'We are QSS at 40,' a large-scale exhibition curated by Eamonn Maxwell. The show features work by over sixty artists and includes painting, sculpture, video, drawing, performance and installation. Whilst the majority of the exhibiting artists are current studio holders (e.g., (including Susan Connolly, Amanda Coogan, Joy Gerrard, Sharon Kelly, Mark McGreevy and Jennifer Trouton), fourteen past members from across the last four decades have also been invited to exhibit (e.g., Ronnie Hughes, Jack Pakenham and Chris Wilson). Maxwell notes, "It's going to be an eclectic show with an unusual hang, but that makes it really exciting for me as a curator. Being from Co. Antrim it's nice to be working with artists who live and work near where I hail from. Spending time in QSS over the last few months, meeting the artists and considering the exhibition spaces, has been deeply rewarding." To complement the exhibition, QSS has organised a series of guided tours, talks, workshops and open studio events.
For further details visit: https://www.queenstreetstudios.net/upcoming-events/
Seacourt Print Workshop: presents Pecking Order by Penny Brewill RE. Seacourt Print Workshop is re-opening following a summer of renovations to the former Ulster Bank building, Main Street, Bangor, which it acquired in December 2023. Seacourt was founded in 1981 and since then has been engaged in promoting the art of printmaking and creating opportunities for people to engage in creativity. The new location is the arts organisation’s 5th location, a heritage building that places Seacourt at the heart of the city.
‘Pecking Order’ investigates the themes of lost childhood, nostalgia and memory, in addition to concepts of anthropomorphism. This body of work focuses mainly on cherished possessions around the home, how these may reflect a person’s character, bear physical traces, or reveal the identity of their owner. ‘Pecking Order’ runs until the end November 2024 at Seacourt Print Workshop, 75 Main Street, Bangor.
Visit www.facebook.com/seacourtprintworkshop
Golden Thread Gallery: Belfast's leading contemporary art gallery, re-opened on Saturday 10th August 2024 located at 23-29 Queen Street, BT1 6EA. Free Entry
GTG presents, Claire Morgan – You Will Not Stop Here, 19 October - 27 November 2024.
The Golden Thread presents new work by internationally acclaimed artist Claire Morgan which has been specially commissioned with the support of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Commissioning Grant 2024. Claire Morgan raises fundamental questions about the role of humans and their relationship to nature. Complex three-dimensional forms made from artificial and natural materials are a frequently recurring motif and the artist uses taxidermy, waste materials, sculptural wax figures and human hair, to create uniquely beautiful work, that inspires new understanding to the possibilities of the art form.
For further information visit www.goldenthreadgallery.co.uk
Outburst Arts and Ulster University: presents, Mixtape #1 – Phil Collins, 31 October - 5 December 2024. Outburst Queer Arts Festival and Ulster Presents at Ulster University mark the 175th Anniversary of the Belfast School of Art in a new collaboration with one of its most acclaimed graduates. Phil Collins is a visual artist, filmmaker, cultural organiser, and educator who lives in Berlin and Wuppertal. He is internationally renowned for a socially engaged practice that addresses the intersections of art, politics and popular culture.
This UK premiere of Mixtape #1 is an unorthodox overview of Collins’ work in moving image. Drawing its title and concept from the ‘mixtape’ – a devotional form of music compilation – this genre-bending compendium brings together a heady blend of episodes, excerpts, off-cuts, and ephemeral scenes from his extensive filmography.
Presented in Outburst Queer Arts Festival 2024, as part of a BSoA 175 Commissioning Partnership between Outburst Arts and Ulster Presents. Full details will be available in the Outburst programme at outburstarts.com
Belfast Exposed: presents,
Jo Spence: A Woman’s Place?
Dates: 17th October 2024 – 21st December 2024
Venue: Belfast Exposed
https://www.belfastexposed.org/exhibitions/a-womans-place/
In collaboration with the Centre for British Photography, "Jo Spence: A Woman's Place?" is an exhibition spotlighting the ground-breaking phototherapy work of the celebrated British photographer and feminist Jo Spence (1934–1992), providing an intimate and powerful look at Spence’s exploration of the roles and experiences of women within society.
Jo Spence was not just a photographer but a cultural critic and activist who used her medium as a tool for emotional and political self-exploration. A central aspect of this exhibition focuses on Spence’s practice of phototherapy, developed primarily with collaborator Rosy Martin. Spence’s phototherapeutic sessions combined photography with therapeutic practices, allowing her to confront the deeply personal and often painful aspects of her life in a social context that sought to marginalise and silence women’s experiences. The exhibition shines a light on Spence’s engagement with the complexities of womanhood, class, sexuality, and health, addressing themes often left unspoken.
Arpita Shah: Modern Muse
Dates: 17th October 2024 – 21st December 2024
Venue: Belfast Exposed
https://www.belfastexposed.org/exhibitions/modern-muse/
"Modern Muse" by acclaimed photographic artist Arpita Shah is a compelling exhibition that Belfast Exposed is delighted to bring to Ireland for the first time in collaboration with the Centre for British Photography and with support from Ulster University/Belfast School of Art. Originally commissioned by GRAIN projects, this ongoing series of portraits explores the evolving identities and visual representation of young British-Asian women. At the heart of "Modern Muse" is Shah’s desire to address and challenge notions of the 'muse' in art. By replacing the Mughal emperors of classical South Asian painting with modern British-Asian women, Shah subverts those historical representations and celebrates the strength, diversity, and individuality of each woman depicted in her series.
We Love Dogs!
Dates: 7th November 2024 – 21st December 2024
Venue: Belfast Exposed
https://www.belfastexposed.org/exhibitions/we-love-dogs/
Proudly sponsored by Jollyes pet superstores, Belfast Exposed is delighted to present public exhibition “We Love Dogs!” in the Studio gallery this November and December. After an open call for submissions, hundreds of portraits, action shots, and images of candid moments were received from both amateur and professional photographers, culminating in a show that celebrates canine companions of all shapes and sizes, from chihuahuas to great danes.
The exhibition will also include a “Give A Dog A Home” space, where images from eight Northern Ireland dog rescue and rehoming centres will showcase current residents seeking their forever home, in the hope that a gallery visitor might catch a glimpse of their perfect match.
Whilst Belfast Exposed has always been a dog-friendly space, “We Love Dogs!” includes several special events for VIPs (Very Important Pups) including an early opening time of 5-6pm for dogs and their people at Late Night Art on Thursday 7 November and a Santa’s Grotto.
Yvette Monahan: Fibre – Nature-friendly Flax Farming
Dates: 6th February 2025 – 22nd March 2025
Venue: Belfast Exposed
https://www.belfastexposed.org/exhibitions/fibre-nature-friendly-flax-farming/
In collaboration with The Gaia Foundation’s campaign “We Feed The UK”, Belfast Exposed presents “Fibre” by Yvette Monahan.
We Feed The UK is a nationwide environmental storytelling campaign from The Gaia Foundation. To disrupt the dominant narrative about farming, they have paired photographers and poets with the UK's best custodians of soil, sea, and seed.
At Mallon Farm in County Tyrone, Helen Keys and Charlie are not just resurrecting the tradition of flax cultivation but doing so with an awe-inspiring resilience. Their 'wee blue blossom' is chemical-free, hand-harvested, retted in rainwater, scutched on a restored turbine, and woven into local supply chains.
Photographer Yvette Monahan's year-long journey to capture the flax growing and production process at Mallon Farm has been a testament to the beauty and significance of this age-old tradition, bringing it to life through the seasons.
Portrait of Belfast: Part II
Dates: 6th February – 22nd March 2025
Venue: Belfast Exposed
https://www.belfastexposed.org/exhibitions/portrait-of-belfast-part-ii/
Belfast Exposed presents Portrait of Belfast: Part II, an original photographic project and exhibition that celebrates the people who make up contemporary Belfast.
Portrait of Belfast: Part II features over 300 black and white images that include staged studio portraits, environmental street photography and images submitted by members of the public. These beautiful examples of noir-style portraiture evoke a strong sense of the city’s diverse communities and the people behind its stories.
Within the images that make up Portrait of Belfast, you’ll find musicians, writers, comedians, politicians, activists, artists, teachers, social workers, carers, parents, children and more. People from all ages and backgrounds. The resulting collection is a portrait of the people who make up Belfast today, reflecting both the city's history and future.
VOID Art Centre: presents, Mikhail Karikis, Acoustics of Resistance, 05/10/2024 – 07/12/2024
What artistic responses can we invent in the face of climate collapse to inspire alternative visions to the dominant apocalyptic climate discourse? How can we collectively tune into the sonorities of socio-political change and ecology? Acoustics of Resistance is a multi-media project comprising of works that collectively tune into the sonorities of socio-political change and ecology. It rejoices in the transformative and healing powers of listening and sound-making while declaring that changing the course of climate change is in our hands and lies on humans learning the language of nature.
Surging Seas and The Weather Orchestra are two installations that approach the theme of climate change from the perspectives of scientific data, collective and individual emotional response, speculative thinking and sounding. They are an ode to the elements, expressing our deep relationship and entanglement with the weather and celebrating our connection to the atmosphere and the earth.
Visit the VOID website for full details at www.derryvoid.com
Platform Arts: Visit www.nuacollective.com for more information.
CCA: presents, is delighted to present a solo exhibition of artist Michael Hanna’s long term project Crossing the Park.
In Crossing the Park, Michael Hanna takes himself as the subject in a project that sees the artist attempt to change his deep-set allegiance from Everton Football Club to their local rivals, Liverpool. This process, which has taken place across the past three years, highlights the strong negative social pressures against such a change, as historically Northern Irish football fans choose an English team to support for life when they're young. By swapping allegiances, Michael explores urgent questions surrounding loyalty, tribalism, empathy and identity, and investigates the psychology of group behaviour.
Crossing the Park is commissioned by CCA Derry~Londonderry, Centre Culturel Irlandais and F.E. McWilliam Gallery. It is supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's Commissioning Programme, Derry City & Strabane District Council, An Chomhairle Ealaíon, Temple Bar Gallery + Studios and the Elephant Trust.
Visit www.ccadld.org for more details.
