Our communities are at the heart of what we do!
We believe taking part in art brings joy and can make life better… and it can even improve your health!
Our Hub is your space to try something creative. Be inspired by our exhibitions, or try one of the self-led art activities like collage, paper mosaic, drawing and colouring-in. We provide all the materials you’ll need for free, and our Hub and free activities are available all day, every day.
Perhaps you’d like to check out our Free Little Library? Grab a book, take a seat, and take some time out of your busy day in a welcoming, relaxed space. You can even take the book home with you, if you like!
You can join our free mindfulness drop-in workshops on Wednesdays 1.30-3pm and Fridays 11.30-1pm, designed to help ease stress and celebrate expressing yourself. They are open to everyone, no need to book. All materials are supplied, plus tea, coffee and snacks. No artistic experience required!
Our Hub is an accessible space designed for and with our communities. If you have an idea for a Hub activity for you or for a group, please let us know! We always try to listen to our visitors and participants, your voice and your needs are important to us.
Art has the power to inspire, heal, and connect people on a profound level. Art is for everyone!
We work with communities to create projects together
Our vision is to be a destination where each and every visitor is engaged – and reflected – in the stories inspired by and communicated through the visual art on our walls.
‘Nothing about us, without us.’
That’s our guiding principle. Since the very beginning of the GTG, we’ve worked closely with communities here in Belfast to deliver community projects like Draw Down the Walls and Ambulatorio, and guided public art commissions like Kevin Killen’s Journeylines at York Street station. All of our projects with communities put co-creation at their heart.
We recognise that shared ownership and shared space helps encourage a sense of belonging and empowerment, and have worked for many years with local people, including some of the most marginalised communities in Belfast – among them, newly arrived migrant, refugee and asylum seeker families – to collectively shape our plans for our spaces, workshops & programming.
Art can also help improve health and wellbeing. Here in Queen Street, we’ve developed a Health and Wellbeing programme based in our Hub that works with individuals in Belfast disadvantaged through long-term health issues and mental health challenges. We offer free bespoke workshops for groups including older people over 65+, neurodiverse young people, people with long-term health conditions, people with autism and people with a range of disabilities. We offer art activities that focus on fun, play, creativity, connection, self-expression and mindfulness.
GTG has delivered hundreds of hours of collaborative projects for all abilities and ages with many community organisations, including projects for older people like Belfast: City of Stories, Silver Screens and Bon Voyage through the Arts Council NI Arts & Older People scheme.
We’ve collaborated with groups like the Belfast Stroke Group; NOW Group; Anaka Collective; PPR No-One Left Behind; NICRAS; Brain Injury Matters; Lower Shankill Community Association; North Belfast Interface Network; Kilcooley Women’s Centre; The Hubb; Glenbank Community Garden; New Lodge Serenity Club; Belfast Met; Conway Mill; Another World Belfast; ACSONI; and Sailortown Community.
Our commitment to a collaborative, inclusive approach was recognised when we were awarded a Calouste Gulbenkian Award for Civic Arts Organisations in 2023.
GTG has worked with so many communities and organisations across Northern Ireland!
Events For Communities
Insight into the Other
Creative Workshop for Teens & Adults 1.30-3
Out of Office Drop-In Sessions Wednesdays 12-2PM
Mindful Colouring Drop-In Workshop Friday 11.30-1PM
Then, Now & Could Be! Arts & Older People Workshops Tuesdays 11-1
Help fund our work
Through a one-off or repeat donation, you’ll enable us to continue showcasing art and culture with our community.
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