News

Belfast City Council has officially opened the 2026 round of the Bank of Ideas, offering grants of up to £2,500 for creative projects that bring people together. This year, the initiative is centered around the theme of “Celebrating Together” to coincide with Belfast hosting the Fleadh Cheoil – the world’s largest celebration of Irish music … Continued

If you are an independent artist, musician, or performing arts professional based in NI, there is a significant opportunity to get your ticket and travel costs covered for The Gathering. This is a leaging all-island networking event for the sector, and it is taking place in Belfast this May. Performing Arts Forum, which many will … Continued

The Black Box has launched Safe & Sound, a new programme supported by Belfast City Council through the Ending Violence Against Women & Girls Fund. Safe & Sound will use creative activity to support conversations and learning around safety in and around cultural spaces, with a focus on the realities that shape people’s experiences in … Continued

The Ivors Academy has formally launched its first dedicated presence in Ireland, marking a significant moment for songwriters and composers across the island. After more than eighty years championing music writers in the UK, the Academy’s expansion signals a deeper, long-term commitment to advocacy, protection and recognition for Irish creators, at a moment when questions … Continued

A new pilot micro-grant programme, Teenage Kicks, has been launched to support the delivery of high-quality live music events for young people aged 18 and under across Belfast. Delivered by Belfast City Council, the programme responds directly to the strategic aims of A City Imagining, Belfast’s ten-year cultural strategy, and the Music Matters Strategy, both … Continued

If you’ve ever found yourself learning the business side of music by trial and error – or some and late-night Googling – this is a rare chance to help shape something more structured and genuinely useful. Belfast City Council are developing a free Business Accelerator Programme for the Music Industry, bringing together existing Go Succeed … Continued

Belfast marked four years as aUNESCO City of Music this November, a milestone that reflects not just a title but a growing international network centred on exchange and shared cultural practice. Since joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2021, Belfast has strengthened meaningful partnerships with fellow Cities of Music including London, Ontario, Hannover, Daegu … Continued

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has announced over £1 million in National Lottery Project Funding for Individual Artists (PFIA), supporting 162 artists across multiple disciplines, including a substantial number from NI’s music sector. Recipients will use awards of up to £10,000 to develop new work, recordings, training and other professional projects over the coming … Continued

Beyond the main album prize, the awards celebrated success across various genres and career stages: Elsewhere, one of the most emotional highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award to Alan Simms of Shine Promotions. Simms was celebrated for his immense influence on NI’s live music culture over the last three decades. As the driving force … Continued

For almost two decades, the Oh Yeah Music Centre has been the north star of Belfast’s music ecosystem: not just a home for emerging artists and a hub for community, but also a steady pulse in a city that increasingly lives and breathes creativity. Few people know that rhythm better than Dee McAdams. As Operations … Continued