About
A global art school in the heart of the city centre.
The Belfast School of Art
A global art school in the heart of the city centre.
The Belfast School of Art is the largest art and design facility on the island of Ireland, hosting a wide range of disciplines across the fine and applied arts, design and screen-based subject such as games and animation.
The School has been the region’s main provider of art and design education for 175 years and counting, with many globally significant alumni. Some key past students include Anne Acheson, Deborah Brown, TP Flanagan, Paul Henry, John Luke, Gladys McCabe and, more recently, Phil Collins, Alice Maher and two Turner prize winners from the Array Collective.
Innovation and excellence
Innovation and excellence continue into the present.
Staff and students play an active role in civic and cultural life in Belfast and beyond. Many are also research active, contributing to a series of core thematic strands including: Art and Design for Health; Art and Conflict; Art Space and Place; and the Creative Industries. This work has been highly ranked within the UK’s Research Excellence Framework assessments, with the School scoring among the top three for Research Environment and Impact in Art and Design.
While locally grounded, The Belfast School of Art is also a global institution. We regularly host international artists, designers and visiting scholars and staff are active in global art and design networks including Cumulus and ELIA. All students are afforded the opportunity study abroad, with many incoming students visiting from other countries through partnerships, exchange programmes and summer schools.
Creativity and innovation are at the heart of everything we do and underpin our contribution to the University’s wider mission of delivering sustainability futures for all.