The 175 Programme

The Belfast School of Art was established on 4^th December 1849. It was initially founded as School of Design to support the needs of the city’s rapidly-expanding manufacturing industries. It is the oldest provider of design education on the island of Ireland as well as being one of the oldest creative arts schools in the UK.

2024 marks its 175^th anniversary. To celebrate, the University will host a programme of events, including exhibitions, workshops and lectures, with a focus of activities in late November. Here, we will not only be looking back but also looking forwards, towards the future.

They hope that you’ll be able to join us in the marking this very special milestone!

During this series of events, we will not only be looking back and examining the placemaking role of the Belfast School of Art both in North Belfast, the City Centre and beyond but also looking forwards, towards the future.

A flavour of what is happening:

• Acclaimed international visual artist, filmmaker, cultural organiser, and educator Phil Collins will host the UK and Ireland premiere of Mixtape #1, an unorthodox view of his decades-long work in moving image, in Belfast, the city where he studied his craft before embarking on a distinguished career as a visual artist. He is internationally renowned for a socially engaged practice that addresses the intersections of art, politics and popular culture.
• An exclusive live art performance by Alastair MacLennan, one of the UK’s most significant and prolific performance artists and a founding member of Belfast's Bbeyond Performance Art International.
• A celebration event with the Ulster Museum marking the 50^th Anniversary of Joseph Beuys’ visit to Belfast. A significant encounter that led to a strong relationship between Beuys visit and the establishment of the Masters of Fine Art, a prestigious Masters programme. Beuys was influential on social issues, sustainability and the environment and had a lasting legacy on the programme.
• The Chancellor’s address: in Conversation with Colin Davidson – globally-acclaimed artist and University Chancellor will deliver the 175 address. He will reflect on the wider role of the Belfast School of Art in shaping the cultural fabric of the city and on the role of the School in the institution and the value of a creative arts education in the twentieth-first century.
• A keynote address by world-renowned Irish artist and BSoA alumna Alice Maher will share her reflections on her time on the MFA Fine Art programme and the profound influence Belfast has had on her work. Following on, a broader panel, comprised of MFA alumni through the decades, will then explore the wider impact and legacy of the programme, underscoring its role in fostering a dynamic artistic community, deeply intertwined with the cultural fabric of the region.
• Internationally recognised painter, sculptor and illustrator Oliver Jeffers will also give a keynote, reflecting on his time at BSoA.
• Currently showing: Basil Blackshaw exhibition - to mark the naming of the Belfast School of Art’s ‘Blackshaw Building’, the University hosts a selection of his work exploring his deep reverence for the flora, fauna and landscape of this part of the world. Blackshaw was a student at the Belfast School of Art in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He maintained a connection with the Art School throughout his career, visiting and advising students in their developing practice across the years.

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