The Gathering Place

Back in 2017, Voluntary Arts Ireland teamed up with ArtsEkta for The Gathering Place Project - connecting diverse communities across Ireland who share a love creativity through an innovative programme of making, collaborating, constructing and discussing.

People of all ages, backgrounds and abilities came together with a creative team of artists to create mixed media portraits and artworks for the sculptural installation in The Gathering Place which was exhibited at #BelfastMela.

Participants were asked to respond to themes such as; identity, community, faith and journeys. We captured these responses and stories and presented them as an audio element to The Gathering Place installation in 2017. 

We also had fantastically engaging performances from Clara Rose Thornton from InkBot Complex and a workshop on Lyricism and Empowerment - just one way we can use this creative space. 

Since then, ArtsEkta have teamed up with FabLab Belfast to build a beautiful wooden structure made up of wooden panels designed by local community groups. 

The Gathering Place is a collaborative project, aiming to create a physical ‘Gathering Place’ which participants will design and develop over the course of the project.  

Partly funded by the Department of Arts Heritage Regional Rural and Gaeltacht affairs and The Arts Council of Northern Ireland. 

For more information on up-coming events and workshops contact: Áoife - [email protected] and follow our Facebook page for updates.