Cultivating Creativity in Belfast

Although I came to Queen’s University Belfast to study children’s rights, I knew that if I wanted to get the most out of my experience studying in the UK, I needed to make space for my creative side too. I found that nurturing my artistic self gave me a chance to recharge, meet people outside my programme, and ultimately helped my academic life flourish.

Here are six of the many ways I found creativity and community while studying at Queen’s University Belfast.
 

1) Discover Belfast’s Art Scene at Late Night Art

Late Night Art is an art crawl held on the first Thursday of every month across galleries, museums, and other creative spaces throughout Belfast. It is a fantastic way to explore the city, and all of the participating venues offer free drinks and snacks along the way.

The venues change each month, which keeps it exciting. Two of my favourites were Craft NI Gallery, which showcased work from local artists with live demonstrations, and The Black Box theatre, which has a really fun alternative atmosphere.

Late Night Art is also a great low-pressure activity to do with new friends. You can spend as much or as little time as you want at each venue, and you never know who you might meet along the way!
 

2) Live Music, Lemon Loaf and Art at Crescent Arts Centre

When I was looking for somewhere to live, I wanted to be close to a creative space, so I chose Prestige Student Living Aster House student accommodation right next to the Crescent Arts Centre. This ended up being one of my favorite parts of living in South Belfast.

The centre has a coffee shop with some of the best homemade lemon loaf I have ever had, surrounded by artwork from the creative classes offered throughout the year. On Saturdays, you can often find live traditional music while people study, draw, and chat.

I also took a beginner fan-dancing class there, which was definitely outside of my comfort zone. That was one of the things I loved most about Belfast: there were always opportunities to try something completely new.
 

3) Make Friends Over Crafts at Local Pubs

One of my favorite ways to meet people in Belfast was through a biweekly craft night at The American Bar. There were general craft nights as well as live drawing sessions, so I could grab a drink, make something, and meet people from across the city, not just students from Queen’s.

These nights became much more meaningful than simply having something fun to do after class. They were where I met some of my closest friends in Belfast and gave me something to look forward to during particularly busy periods of my degree.

I met so many artists and learned about creative practices I would never have encountered otherwise. Sometimes, sitting around a table making something together is all it takes to turn new acquaintances into the best of friends.
 

4) Get Creative on Campus at Queen’s

There is a reason why Queen's Students' Union is voted best in the UK. One of my favorite experiences there was a series of embroidery workshops led by a professional embroidery artist. Each week introduced a different technique, and the workshops brought together postgraduate and undergraduate students from departments across the university.

I learned how to embroider with dried flowers and experiment with new materials, and it was such a nice way to step away from academic work for a while. Queen’s also made the experience feel especially welcoming by providing tea, scones, and biscuits during the workshops.

The spaces filled up quickly, so I bookmarked the “What’s On” section of their website and learned to sign up as soon as possible!
 

5) Take a Creative Day Trip to Lisburn’s Knit + Stitch Show

If you love textiles, crafts, or simply discovering something new, the annual Knit + Stitch Show in Lisburn is worth putting on your calendar in November. It is an easy day trip from Belfast, with a short train journey followed by a bus directly to the convention centre.

The show brings together local artists, vendors, and heritage craft groups. I learned about three-dimensional appliqué embroidery, explored the artists’ gallery, watched a fashion show, and discovered traditional crafts through local guilds. My favorites were the lace guild and the spinners, and I even bought a spindle so I could try making my own yarn!

There are also plenty of beginner kits and classes, so it is very easy to get carried away shopping. If you go, I recommend making a full day of it with friends and signing up for at least one workshop.

One practical tip: bring your own snacks, water, and lunch if you can. Food at the exhibition can be expensive, and you will probably want to save your spending money for all the craft supplies!
 

6) Give Back Through Community Arts

I have always believed in giving back to the communities I am part of, so volunteering was another important part of my experience in Belfast.

I volunteered at Arts-For-All, a community arts centre at the Cityside shopping mall, where every week I got to make crafts with toddlers and their grownups. This particular organization offered creative programmes for people from all different backgrounds and walks of life, so there was always something new to learn. One of the highlights was watching the children grow throughout the year and learning which craft materials and colors were their favorites.

If you have the time, I really recommend volunteering consistently rather than treating it as a one-off activity. Giving your time to the community can be incredibly rewarding, and it is also one of the best ways to feel connected to a new place.
 

There Is Always Something New to Experience

These are only six of the dozens of ways I was able to connect with the arts while living in Belfast. The city has a wonderfully active creative scene, with festivals, exhibitions, workshops, performances, and community events happening all throughout the year. The city is littered with flyers, posters, and banners, so keep an eye out.

Most importantly, do not limit yourself to the things you already know you enjoy. Studying abroad is the perfect opportunity to try something completely new, whether it is a new craft, a class, or simply appreciating an exhibit with strangers.

For me, creativity helped me build friendships, become part of the local community, discover new interests, and showed me that I could build a life abroad and truly make Belfast feel like home.

– Christine