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Date: 29 June 2026
Six of Belfast’s leading designers and makers have each been awarded a £2,000 Craft & Design Mentorship Bursary, delivered in partnership between Belfast City Council and Craft NI.
The initiative supported local makers to invest directly in their skills and development, with recipient’s selecting an established designer or craftsperson as a mentor.
Among the recipients were sign painter and gilder Laura Nelson and lettering artist Tony Moore – who travelled to Barcelona and Limerick to meet with mentors to strengthen and evolve their practice and gain new techniques.
Councillor Joe Duffy, Chair of Council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee said: “Belfast is a city absolutely bursting with creative talent, and it is vital that we nurture it at every level.
"From the preservation of traditional heritage skills like gilding and ceramics to the vibrant, modern energy of our street art and music scenes, the incredible range of culture-led bursaries shows our commitment to investing directly in our people.
“By partnering with organizations like Craft NI, The Duncairn and Seedhead Arts, we are ensuring our local artists have the support, global mentorship, and safe spaces they need to thrive, innovate, and shape the unique cultural landscape of our city."
"The mentorship was so useful," said lettering artist Tony Moore. "I’d been painting signs around the city for years, but it’s definitely added to my skillset. I’m currently producing new hand-painted signage at the Deer’s Head, using some of the techniques I picked up from my mentor."
Laura Nelson highlighted the rare opportunity the bursary provided to preserve vanishing heritage crafts. She said: "I've been trying to secure this kind of specialised training for years because the craft is dying out. I feel incredibly lucky to have received this mentorship.”
The remaining four craft bursary recipients include celebrated local ceramicists Helen Faulkner and Derek Wilson, textile designer Alison Pascoe (specialising in macramé), and stained-glass artist Kerrie Hanna.
Building on this creative momentum, Belfast City Council also announced a diverse round-up of active cultural projects designed to support artists at every stage of their careers:
• Belfast Street Art Mentorship Award: Six bursaries of £2,000 are now open to Belfast-based street artists to fund professional development in a one-to-one mentorship capacity, following the success of past participants like Friz (who studied augmented reality in Edinburgh) and Wee Nuls (who studied realism in Ghent). Applications close at 12 noon on Thursday, 2 July 2026.
• Artist Residency at Botanic Gardens: Stained-glass artist Kerrie Hanna is currently hosting 'Show and Tell' events at the Tropical Ravine, where she is interpreting the site’s botanical collections and natural heritage. The next event is on Friday 10 July at 1.30pm.
• Gradam Ceoil Traditional Music Bursary: Delivered in partnership with The Duncairn, this scheme provides tailored mentorship, career development, and high-profile performance platforms for emerging traditional musicians. This year’s recipients were Jack McGoldrick, Eimear Magee & Peadar Connor.
• Teenage Kicks Micro-Grants: This initiative was open to venues, festivals and event organisers, aiming to support safe, high-quality nights out for young people who love live music – all without the alcohol. Upcoming events will be shared on Council’s social media platforms in the coming months.
• Belfast Art Map & Belfast Canvas: Belfast City Council in collaboration with Belfast Visual Arts Forum are creating a new iteration of The Belfast Art Map to promote the cities vibrant galleries, studios, and public art works, launching ahead of the upcoming Fleadh (2-9 August.) The Belfast Canvas project will also bring dynamic live animation to the city streets during the festival.