Forty artists and four organisations from across the UK congregated in Belfast in September 2022 for the annual Freelands Artist Programme symposium.

‘City as Material’ was a three-day programme exploring relationships between spaces in the city and artistic practice. We heard from citizens across from Belfast and beyond on and discussed how the city informs artists and how do artists inform the city?

Day one was held at Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, an Irish language cultural centre located on the Falls Road. Artists Jane Butler, Mitch Conlon and Thomas Wells from Array Collective spoke to us about their experiences making creative, collective, and collaborative work in response to the socio-political issues affecting Northern Ireland. Artist Sandra Johnston discussed her decades-long practice of site-responsive performance and installation works, informed by her personal and the shared traumatic history of the city.

On the second day, we investigated how artists can form and enrich community at Vault Artist Studios in East Belfast. After a studio tour and introduction to the artist-led scene in Belfast, we heard from artist Anne-Marie Dillon about her socially engaged work centred around the small rural community of Ballykinler, County Down. Curator Michele Horrigan gave a presentation about Askeaton Contemporary Arts, which is based in a small town in County Limerick, Ireland. Both projects illuminated different ways in with rural communities can be actively involved in practices that generate critique, investigation and celebration.
We also enjoyed walks themed around sound, foraging, and smell led by John D’Arcy, Dermot Hughes and Jan Uprichard, as well as special performances from local poets and musicians Padraig Regan, Hive Choir and Susan Hughes.

On our final morning in Belfast, Ciara Hickey and Davy Mahon from PS2 gave a tour of central Belfast art spaces and exhibitions. Thomas Wells led a trip to The Ulster Folk Museum – a remarkable living museum and environmental resource situated at Cultra, three miles east of Belfast.

The Freelands Artist Programme supports relationships and collaborations between artists and arts organisations across the UK. The participating organisations are g39, Cardiff; PS2, Belfast; Site Gallery, Sheffield; and Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh.

Photos by Jan McCollough