Culture and arts

Belfast is a city with a rich heritage, offering a host of vibrant cultural and artistic experiences.

We recognise that culture makes a very valuable contribution to the life of our city and are working hard to place culture and arts firmly on the urban regeneration agenda for Belfast.

Cultural life makes an important contribution to the economy, offering employment opportunities and developing valuable skills. It also encourages the ever growing numbers of tourists to visit Belfast.

We currently support over 70 cultural organisations ranging from the internationally acclaimed Belfast Festival at Queen's through to smaller community-based projects. We annually invest over £1.5 million in their cultural programming, skills development and audience development.

Projects and news

Funding Funding
We have a range of funding programmmes available including:
Development and Outreach Initiative
Community Festivals Fund
Rolling Programme


Heritage Heritage
Find out about Belfast's heritage and our heritage policy. And our arts and heritage training courses.

Cultural Strategy Integrated Cultural Strategy
Our strategy sets out a framework for 2007-10 to help create a joined-up approach to the development of Belfast's cultural sectors.

Heritage Forum Belfast Heritage Forum
Our Heritage Forum is a network where organisations, with an interest in the city's heritage, can meet and exchange information.

Public art City Hall artwork commission
We are commissioning an artwork which reflects local Irish history and heritage. Deadline: 12 noon, Friday 5 February 2010.

Public art Public art projects
Find out about public art projects in Belfast including Brighter Belfast and the Re-Imaging Communities Project.

Participate Participate
The Participate conference was held on 25 March 2009 at Elmwood Hall in Belfast. The conference questioned and explored how the value of culture and arts impacts on the regeneration of Belfast.

Festivals Forum Festivals Forum
Find out about our Festivals Forum as well as our Festivals Calendar.



Contact us

Culture and Arts
Tel : 028 9027 0461
Email: cultureandartsadmin@belfastcity.gov.uk