Belfast Exposed Photography Gallery

28/05/2026

Join us at Stormont Parliament Buildings, in the Long Gallery, on Monday 1st June, 12.30pm to listen to people who have come from different countries to make Northern Ireland their home, including Sheila Chakravarti, Andy George & Sipho Sibanda.

🎟️Book your free ticket:
https://www.belfastexposed.org/whats-on/panel-discussion-first-they-ignore-you/

Global majority people experience racism in Northern Ireland. If you have not experienced this it will not be prominent in your thoughts. However, increasingly, it is becoming an issue in Northern Ireland. This is an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of how racism impacts our lives, and to consider the issues at stake without blame or accusations.

At a time when discourse around this issue becomes increasingly polarised, informed policy, and law made and enacted with understanding becomes increasingly important.

Join us at Stormont Parliament Buildings, in the Long Gallery, on Monday 1st June, 12.30pm to listen to people who have come from different countries to make

21/05/2026

The BIEN Project, in partnership with the Office of Inclusion and Cultural Expression, finishes on Saturday, bringing to an end an engaging and enlightening series of exhibitions and events that has allowed us to explore the significance of identity in Northern Ireland.

As part of that events programme we welcomed acclaimed flautists Aisling Agnew and Andrew Douglas, to showcase the versatility of the instrument, including its prevalence in folk and popular culture.

Andrew plays with the Ulster Orchestra and Aisling is the artistic director of the Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble and host of The Flute NI podcast.

Our three current exhibitions as part of BIEN (British? Irish? Either? Neither?) finish this Saturday, 23rd May. We are open tomorrow and Saturday 11am-5pm.

20/05/2026

We pride ourselves on providing a platform on which we can champion the world class work of local and home grown talent.

The BIEN Project (British? Irish? Either? Neither?) has given us the opportunity to showcase 16 local artists in the one space.

As part of this project, in collaboration with the Office of Inclusion and Cultural Expression, we had two solo shows and one group show.

One of the solo shows was from Rebecca Brownlie, the passionate photographer behind

Another of our BIEN programme events had Rebecca in conversation with our CEO .

We loved to see the interaction with the audience as we learned more about Rebecca’s work and what keeps driving her to document the crumbling remnants of our built environment.

The work of Rebecca and our other artists are all on display until Saturday. We are open 11am-5pm.

19/05/2026

As we enter the last week of our three exhibitions, we will look back on the events that also formed the BIEN Project, in partnership with principal funder the Office of Inclusion and Cultural Expression.

We enjoyed a beautiful afternoon of music by , an Antrim-based performer who ties her lyrics to the land that she knows and loves.

As part of the same event we heard from Lee Reynolds, the Commissary o Ulstèr-Scotch and Ulstèr-Bïtisch Heirskip.

We have relished the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the cultural richness of our wee corner of the world.

If you haven’t had a chance to visit and see the work on display, the two solo exhibitions (from and ) and our group show ‘In Their Own Image’ all finish on Saturday.

More details on our website.

11/05/2026

🚨 x2 BIEN Events this Week! 🚨

We are looking forward to the last two events in our BIEN programme, as we approach the final weeks of our exhibition run in partnership with the Office of Inclusion and Cultural Expression.

Tomorrow (Tuesday 12th) at 1pm is A Heirskip o Sang, a recital by Lisa Dawson, a musician from North Antrim who composes songs inspired by the rural scenes of Northern Ireland where she grew up.

Lisa will be introduced by, and will chat with Lee Reynolds, the Commissary o Ulstèr-Scotch and Ulstèr-Bïtisch Heirskip.

Then on Thursday (May 14th) will be our final event from this project series and it will be a unique opportunity to hear from three (yes, three!) of our current exhibiting artists, mere days from the closing of the exhibitions.

Enjoy a panel discussion with artists Donovan Wylie, Iollann Ó Murchú and Rebecca Brownlie before enjoying their art on the walls, or perhaps you’ve already seen it 🤷🏻‍♂️ so you can do another lap!

Iollan and Rebecca have solo shows and Donovan is part of our wonderful group show, ‘In Their Own Image’.

Don’t miss either of these events, both will take place at 1pm and are free to attend. More info on our website.

Our continued thanks to the Office of Inclusion and Cultural Expression for funding and co-creating the British? Irish? Either? Neither? (BIEN) Project. We hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as we have.

07/05/2026

🚨 BIEN Event Tomorrow 🚨

As part of our BIEN programme of cultural events, supporting the three exhibitions of photography currently on display in our galleries, we are delighted to host this recording of the My Identity podcast.

This event will be a conversation, hosted by Professor Colin Graham, with artists Joy Gerrard and Paul Seawright.

It is part of ‘My Identity’ Podcast, hosted by Professor Colin Graham and produced by Dr Susie Deedigan.

ARINS (Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South) produces authoritative, non-partisan research and is a joint initiative of the University of Notre Dame and the Royal Irish Academy, for more information visit: arinsproject.com.

Colin Graham is Professor of English and was formerly Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Philosophy at Maynooth University.

As with all our BIEN Project events, this is free to attend and will start at 1pm tomorrow (Friday).

We remain eternally grateful to the Office of Inclusion and Cultural Expression for funding and co-creating this wonderful programme, allowing us all to explore what identity means in Northern Ireland to those who call it home.

For more information, visit our website.

06/05/2026

🚨 BIEN EVENT TOMORROW 🚨

Note change of listed time - this event will be at 1pm

We are delighted to welcome back South African poet, storyteller and playwright Nandi Jola to Belfast Exposed as she speaks with Professor Siobhan Campbell.

Nandi's collection 'Home is Neither Here nor There' sits perfectly within our BIEN (British? Irish? Either? Neither?) theme of programmed events, and how her work explores themes of home, migration and the fragile relationships between humans, animals and morals.

Siobhan is Professor of Poetry and ~Creative Practice at the Open University, a multi-award winning poet, the author of six acclaimed books of poetry and editor of four collections.

We are excited to facilitate a conversation between these two creative leaders and we hope you can join us for it.

This event is at 1pm on Thursday (7th) and is free to attend.

06/05/2026

New Show - Opens Thursday 📸

Artist and photographer David McKinney has long been a part of the Belfast Exposed family and we are delighted to present his new exhibition of work as part of the NI Mental Health Arts Festival.

'I Belong' explores the disconnect David experienced in the weeks before he became a missing person with suicidal intent.

Using a process of ‘photographic disembodiment’, McKinney holds a detached lens against the camera body to create blurred images where only fragments remain in focus. This visual duality reflects how he felt at the time, physically present yet emotionally hollow, like an outsider looking in on his own home, family and self.

We are privileged and honoured to collaborate with David in the telling of his story and we are thrilled it can launch as part of May's Late Night Art Belfast.

'I Belong' is presented in partnership with The Baring Foundation, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the National Lottery Good Causes.

Opens Thursday (7th) from 6pm. Otherwise Tues-Sat, 11-5, until May 23rd only, don't miss it!

05/05/2026

🚨 BIEN EVENT TOMORROW 🚨

In the next instalment of our BIEN Programme, in partnership with the Office of Inclusion and Cultural Expression, is 'Yes, I'm from Northern Ireland'.

Join us to hear from photographer Sheila Chakravarti, who has spent years chronicling the communities of Northern Ireland, as she speaks with Nisha Tandon, the director of Arts Ekta and Belfast Mela.

The ladies will discuss the contribution of minority ethnic community members to the arts in Northern Ireland, while surrounded by the work on display in the group show 'In Their Own Image'.

This is a free event that will begin at 1pm. We look forward to seeing you!

30/04/2026

It's hard to believe it's been a week since we enjoyed hearing from Pól Deeds, the An Coimisinéir Gaeilge/Irish Language Commissioner, about the role and significance of the Irish language in Northern Irish culture.

We are relishing the experiences the BIEN Project is providing our supporters and network, and we are not done yet!

Throughout May we have a wonderful array of free events to explore and enjoy.

Next up is 'Yes, I'm from Northern Ireland' with photographer Sheila Chakravarti and Nisha Tandon, Director of Arts Ekta and Belfast Mela, who will talk about the contribution of minority ethnic community members to the arts in Northern Ireland.

Wednesday, 6th May
1pm in Gallery I

More information here: https://www.belfastexposed.org/whats-on/bien-yes-im-from-northern-ireland/

27/04/2026

🪈 BIEN Event - This Thursday!

We are very excited for this Thursday's free event as part of the BIEN Programme (British? Irish? Either? Neither?), in partnership with principal funder, the Office of Inclusion and Cultural Expression.

We will welcome two of Northern Ireland's acclaimed classical flautists Aisling Agnew Flute and Andrew Douglas, both from different musical traditions but united by a love for the instrument.

Together, they will demonstrate the instrument's versatility, including its prevalence in folk and popular culture.

Andrew plays with the Ulster Orchestra, and Aisling is the Artistic Director of the Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble, the country's contemporary classical musical ensemble, she also hosts The Flute NI podcast.

This is sure to be a wonderful experience to enjoy, and is a free event to attend. You can register your interest and secure your seat via our website: https://www.belfastexposed.org/whats-on/the-flute-ni/

Thursday, 30th April
1pm start time