News

Speaking about the programme, Brona Whittaker, Head of Arts at Arts & Business NI said; “Artist-led spaces, such as studios and creative workspace, are essential to the cultural fabric of our communities, without them we’d have fewer opportunities to experience and engage with art and less cultural events, festivals, shows and exhibitions. These dynamic and inclusive spaces support artists and makers at every stage of their careers, bringing creative ideas and projects to life. They positively impact our wider social, cultural, and economic wellbeing, yet, through our work with arts members and the arts sector, we know that these many of these spaces are in flux, grappling with a number of challenges and external pressures.

In partnership with Belfast City Council, we are delighted to launch our pilot Artist’s Studio programme. Over the next six months, participating organisations across Belfast, will engage in a tailored programme of training, mentoring, and peer learning—designed to help them lay strong foundations, develop new connections and support the building of more resilient and sustainable futures.”

Councillor Sam Nelson, Chair of Belfast City Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee added: “Creative Workspaces are important spaces for our arts and cultural sector. It’s where artists develop ideas, experiment, and engage with others to create. Their work helps to animate our city and showcase talent locally, nationally, and internationally.

The ongoing challenges and instability faced by artist studios has placed pressure on artists, studio leaders and the wider arts community, so it’s vital to protect these spaces.

This programme of support with Arts & Business NI, aims to strengthen the sustainability of the sector by offering leadership training, peer support, financial planning and fundraising. We truly value the important work happening in Belfast’s artist studios.”

The organisations taking part in the programme are -

• Arcade Studios: Arcade Studios was founded in 2020 by three Belfast School of Art recent graduates to address the lack of artist spaces in the city. Based in Donegall Street, Arcade Studios have supported the area's cultural revitalisation for the past five years. They house over ten artists working across disciplines such as painting, sculpture, and photography. Arcade Studios aim is to provide accessible, affordable studios and strengthen Belfast's visual arts community.
  Instagram: 
  
  
• Array: Array (Collective) are a group of individual artists rooted in Belfast, who join together to create collaborative actions in response to the sociopolitical issues affecting Northern Ireland. Array’s studios and project space in the city centre acts as a base for the collective, however the participating artists are not limited to studio holders.
  Website: https://www.arraystudiosbelfast.com/
  
  
• Belfast Print Workshop: Belfast Print Workshop is a city-centre print studio located in the heart of Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. Established in 1977, they have been welcoming artists interested in the practice and promotion of printmaking for over 45 years.
  Website: https://bpw.org.uk/
  
  
• Catalyst Arts: Formed in 1993, Catalyst Arts has a long history at the forefront of the arts scene in Belfast. As a voluntary artist-led organisation, Catalyst Arts’ model is based on collaboration and community with a strong emphasis on promoting and supporting the arts in Northern Ireland and beyond.
  As a members-based organisation, Catalyst Arts has created a community of artists who they continue to support through the provision of resources, exhibitions, residencies and events. Their annual programme includes gallery-based exhibitions, off-site projects and a dedicated outreach programme.
  Website: https://www.catalystarts.org.uk/
  
  
• Creative Exchange: Creative Exchange Artists’ Studios, located within the historic Portview Mill in East Belfast, was established in 1996 by a group of visual artists who over the intervening years have contributed to the history, culture and economy of its locality. Creative Exchange is a community of artists working in a range of mediums including, ceramics, painting, sculpture and textiles, working side-by-side in an environment that encourages and inspires growth. The current studios located within the multifunctional site offer sustainability and security for artists wanting to prioritise their practice, develop professionally and engage with the community. Creative Exchange Artists Studios has a policy of openness within the east Belfast community representing the continuing change and future of the area whilst working within the parameters of its history and heritage. On the verge of major growth, Creative Exchange wishes to lead with an intergenerational approach to visual arts development, connecting artists at different levels of their careers.
  Website: https://www.creativeexchangestudio.co.uk/about-us
  
  
• Digital Arts Studios: Digital Arts Studios are a not-for-profit, charity operating a shared studio space in Belfast City Centre, promoting the convergence of art and technology which provides invaluable access to the resources essential to the production of and engagement with digital arts.
  Website: https://www.digitalartsstudios.com/
  
  
• Pollen: Pollen Studios and Gallery has welcomed many artists since 2011, providing opportunities for those emerging and established to develop, install, exhibit and perform many different types of artwork. Every member has a corner to call their own and, without walls, by sharing the studio and gallery spaces, they have the flexibility of space for working on different projects at the same time. Running the studio and gallery space gives members experience of working in the art sector in different roles from administration to installation, funding applications to residential opportunities.
  Instagram: 
  
  
• Platform Arts: Platform is an artist-led studio group and contemporary art gallery based in Belfast’s city centre. Their role is to actively promote creative expression, presentation, and access to contemporary art practice through our Exhibition, Education and Studio Programmes. Platform Arts is committed to widening access to contemporary art in Northern Ireland.
  Website: https://platformarts-belfast.com/about
  
  
• PS2: PS² = Paragon Studios x Project Space. Ps2 are an artist-led collective, connecting art and society, based in the centre of Belfast. Their core aim is to support artists in their development and to connect art with society in an inclusive way and to a high artistic standard.
  Website: https://www.pssquared.org/about
  
  
• Queen Street Studios: Queen Street Studios is a provider of affordable studios and exhibition space, currently based at The Arches Centre in East Belfast. For 40 years QSS have been dedicated to creating a vibrant hub for artists, with the goal of establishing and enhancing public education in the arts within our local community.
  Website: https://www.queenstreetstudios.net/home/about/
  
  
• Vault Artist Studios: Vault Artist Studios is the largest provider of affordable studios in Northern Ireland. They are also the most diverse multi-disciplinary studio space in the north of Ireland, with two premises in Belfast City. We have around 100 members: active, professional artists working across the visual and performing arts.
  Website: https://www.vaultartiststudios.com/