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Date: 12 June 2025
Category: City centre
A voting day will take place in City Hall on Sunday 29 June as the Bank of Ideas reopens, inviting residents of all ages to have their say on creative projects they would like to see delivered in their local communities.
Organised by Belfast City Council, everyone is invited to call in from 2pm-5pm to hear a range of ideas from organisations and individuals, including murals, music events, gigs, community gardens and lots more, and then vote for your favourites.
Concepts will be presented at a market stall-style event, with hopefuls showing off their creativity to gain votes. 25 projects with the most votes in the east, west, south, north and centre of the city will receive up to £2,000 to turn their ideas into reality between July and October 2025.
Encouraging people to come along on 29 June, Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Paul Doherty, said:
“We had such a fantastic response to the Bank of Ideas as part of last year’s Belfast 2024 celebration of culture and creativity – so much so, that we’ve brought it back again this year.
“This time around, we’ve also widened out the voting process to include children too – giving them a vital opportunity to have their voices heard and a say in the kind of events available for them.
“This initiative is all about being creative and getting people together to deliver activities locally which encourage expression, support good mental health, foster new friendships and bring vibrancy to our local neighbourhoods.
“Over 110 ideas were submitted during our nomination period, from baking clubs to upcycling workshops, and organisers will be in City Hall on 29 June to explain more about their visions, in their own unique ways!
“This promises to be a really fun and colourful day, showcasing the best of Belfast’s creative and community spirit – come along and help shape the initiatives and activities you’d like to see on your own doorstep.”
The voting day at City Hall is free to attend. It will include circus workshops, live music, face-painting, bubble magic, a performance from Belfast Ukelele Jam and even a special ‘Bank Manager’! BSL and ISL interpreters will be available, and the event is fully accessible to everyone.
No prior registration is required.
The Bank of Ideas is among a wide range of events and initiatives delivered by Belfast City Council to support the city’s cultural sector.
The Cultural Multi-Annual Grants programme, which supports festivals, events and arts and heritage projects over a two or four-year period, will reopen for applications this summer, providing almost £2.5million of funding to 50+ organisations.
A late-night art initiative runs on the first Thursday of every month, with galleries opening up their doors for visitors, and the fifth phase of the Belfast Canvas project is also underway, engaging 25 local artists to transform almost 30 utility boxes into street artworks on main routes into the city centre.
A legal walls pilot programme and mentoring scheme for the street art community is also being developed and will reach a minimum of 30 artists.
And Friday 19 September will see the return of Culture Night Belfast with a fresh new format, focusing on a more intimate, artist-led and venue-based experience across the city, with further details to be released soon.
For more on the Bank of Ideas and the council’s support for culture and arts in the city, visit belfastcity.gov.uk/culture