HomeBrighter Belfast: Public artwork at key sites in Belfast
Brighter Belfast is our campaign to make the city a cleaner and more attractive place. To help achieve this, artists are currently working with community groups to create new permanent public art pieces for five key locations across Belfast.These landmarks will celebrate the cultural identity, diversity and rich heritage of the different neighbourhoods in Belfast.
The overall theme is 'Belfast and beyond'. It's a celebration of the industries and social and cultural activities that the people of Belfast have been associated with and how these activities have influenced the rest of the world.
To see some examples of completed projects and pieces of public art in Belfast, please visit our Art for Arterial Routes section.
West Belfast
Site: Falls Road entrance to Falls Park. Artist: Martin Heron, who is originally from Cookstown and now based in France.
Idea: Martin designed and made the sculpture entitled the 'Spirit of Hedge and Hound' which takes the form of a large steel hound. This is a reference to the tradition of greyhound racing in the area and a connection with Celtic Park which was in the local area.
The hound, which has stopped mid-stride, stands upon its hind legs and looks out over the entrance to the park to watch the events of history unfold.
Martin also worked with a number of local community and school groups to create a series of smaller plaques in the shape of paw prints. The trail leads people around the park from the hound sculpture and forms a walking trail of one mile around the park.
North Belfast
Site: A piece of land managed by Belfast City Council at the bottom of Oldpark Road below Shannon Street.Artist: Jason Mulligan, who is originally from Dromore and now based in Kent.
Idea: Jason has proposed a stone sculpture and landscaping scheme reflecting themes from the linen industry.
Greater Shankill
Site: Peter's Hill, which is before the Westlink bridge and opposite Brown Square.Artist: Ross Wilson from Aghadowey.
Idea: Ross has proposed a bronze statue of a mill worker as a tribute to the many women from the Greater Shankill area who worked in the linen industry. Ross will be working with Edenbrooke and Malvern Primary Schools to create works which will tie in with the theme of the linen industry.
South Belfast
Site: Car park next to the Lyric Theatre, which is opposite the Governor's Bridge.Artist: Denis O'Connor from Cork and partner Bernie Rutter who together form 'Sculpture Works' based in Derbyshire.
Idea: They are proposing to create a four meter high sculpture from stainless steel that will illustrate aspects of the history and heritage of Stranmillis. They will be working with local primary schools and students from Stranmillis College along with the Lyric Theatre to create smaller works and to inform people about the nature of the artwork.
East Belfast
Site: City centre end of the Newtownards Road. It will be sited at the front of a new Enterprise Centre and will form a visual gateway to east Belfast.Artist: Malcolm Robertson from Scotland.
Idea: Malcom is proposing to work with the Inner East Interface Group that represents Ballymacarrett and Short Strand Communities and develop imagery for a steel sculpture.
Further information
For more information, please contact:Tourism, Culture and Arts Development Unit
Development Department
Cecil Ward Building
4-10 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BP
Tel: 028 9091 8734
Fax: 028 9027 0325
Email: culture@belfastcity.gov.uk
