News

Keychange has officially released its Keychange Pledge Report 2023-2025, providing one of the most comprehensive looks at gender balance and intersectional inclusion in the global music industry to date. The report highlights a significant milestone: 50.7% of reporting organizations met their gender balance targets in 2025. However, the data reveals a “tale of two industries,” … Continued

AVA Festival has officially unveiled the first wave of artists for its twelfth edition, returning to the Titanic Slipways on May 29-30th 2026. This year’s programme is a defining moment for the festival, led by a hometown headline performance from the Belfast rap trio Kneecap, whose fusion of Irish-language lyricism and punk attitude has become … Continued

In a year already packed with landmark events – from the Fleadh and AVA to Brilliant Corners and the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival – Belfast’s cultural landscape continues to expand with the arrival of a brand-new, all-day event. Taking Up Space will debut at Accidental Theatre on July 26th 2026, offering a platform built with … Continued

What does a creative career in Belfast actually look like? Belfast Buildings Trust and its partners are giving young people the chance to find out through Creative Belfast, a project offering hands-on, paid internships for those aged 18 to 25. It’s a six-month deep dive into how creativity moves through our city. The program is … Continued

The Community Foundation Northern Ireland has announced that the Thomas Devlin Fund is now open for its 2026 round of applications. This fund offers an annual bursary scheme specifically for gifted young people aged 15 to 19 who are looking to develop their skills or pursue professional careers in music, performing arts, or creative arts. … Continued

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