I love browsing through art galleries and the Engine Room is the latest small gallery in Belfast I…read morehave stumbled upon. Run by East Belfast Arts Collective, this Gallery has moved from its original location in a mill Engine Room to a street-level showroom just a little further east on the Newtownards Road. Since the Engine Room opened in the mid 1990s it has been according to the gallery "an engine at the core of the development of contemporary art in Belfast." The range of works on show include everything from oils and acrylics to prints, video, sculpture, arte povere, installation art and new technology. The gallery also aim to showcase lesser known local artists alongside more well known artists with international profiles. There are new exhibitions every month.

This is a great Gallery space in the heart of East Belfast. It hosts local, national and…read moreInternational exhibition. The latest exhibition from 1st April 2010 is a solo show by Deirdre Robb. works on display are paintings, installations and expeimental prints

I am in no way an art buff. I'm not an art anything in fact. But I do like to have a look around…read morethese places, even just to seem a little cultured to the store assistant who can obviously seen through my nods of appreciation. From the outside it looks a little more commercial to other galleries in the area. It always has advertisements in its windows, stating silly pointless things that you should already expect to find in a gallery (not signs saying 'pretty paintings!' but close enough). The price range clearly shows that the stuff here really is for someone who wants to make a serious commitment. Paying 4/5 hundred pounds for a painting the size of my palm is the biggest commitment anyone can make in my opinion!

Eakin's my favourite art gallery on the Lisburn Road. A lovely little family run gallery spanning…read moretwo floors of a red brick townhouse. Specialists in contemporary Irish art they also have some pieces from the past as well. You'll find a range of Artists' work here including George Callaghan, Brian Ballard, Neil Shawcross, Dean McDowell, Louis le Brocquy, J B Vallely and Terry Bradley amongst others. I always call in for a look when I pass Eakin. Yesterday I visited to view the beautiful, stylised, atmospheric paintings of George Callaghan. His harvest sunset paintings are mesmerising and I adore his 'Purple Haze' landscapes. A beautiful exhibition for this time of year as we near the end of October. Prices vary, ranging from smaller works for a few hundred pounds to larger paintings for a few thousand. If I win the lotto I may one day be able to buy instead of just browse! The owner Brian Eakin is very welcoming and their website's kept fully updated with all current paintings listed. However nothing beats a stroll through Eakin Gallery to see the paintings in the flesh.

My first visit, 07/09/2017, introduced me to a gallery I've heard much about. It lived up to it's…read morereputation. Brimming with challenging, contemporary art tackling the big issues of our time, Catalyst is not for the faint-hearted. This uber-cool, industrial, warehouse suits the art it showcases (installation, conceptual, screen etc) and the radical art on display perfectly suits the space. Numerous artists were represented, but I was especially drawn to American/ Metis artist Dylan A T Miner's red wall hangings, called "Gesture of Solidarity". Miner deals with indigenous/ colonial themes and his banners dominated the gallery, catching the eye, demanding attention and investigation. Fantastic work. Catalyst is volunteer run/ nonprofit and as well as serving up fascinating experimental art, it runs a range of events, screenings and activities such as the Anarchist Bookfair. Quite possibly one of the most exciting art spaces in Belfast. I'm only sorry it took me so long to get round to visiting...

Always a great show pushing the boundaries of there practice. Check it out on Late Night Art. It's…read morethe first Thursday of the month!

Really nice art store with a wide selection of items. Unfortunately, I was only searching for a new…read morejournal, but the journal selection was also quite extensive. 3-4 racks. Massive collection of Leuchtturms and Moleskins if that's what you're into. Would recommend. I grabbed one for a friend from a brand I didn't immediately recognize in a niche color. Staff seemed quite friendly additionally.

Absolutely delighted with my Bradbury Art Store delivery; was able to order over the phone and my…read moreWinsor & Newton art supplies were delivered to me the next working day. Canvas and oil paints - looking forward to using them. Excellent quick service, very helpful staff and great selection of quality art materials. This will help me carry on painting during the Coronavirus lockdown - thank you Bradbury Art, much appreciated.

Belfast Exposed was founded in 1983 as part of a community photographic initiative. It now acts as…read morea gallery / exhibition area for photographers with an emphasis on commissioning and a view to publishing new work. It is an extensive gallery which also runs a community outreach programme . Their aim is to help people to learn from and understand their community through photography and they offer a range of courses and developmental programmes. Belfast Exchange is the archive programme compiled of over half a million images collected over the last 30 years in Belfast. These are a great and interesting insight in to Belfast life and events over the past years. Call in to the gallery, or to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum to see the archive of photographs. You never know, you might spot some one you know! This is an invaluable part of our history which should be cherished and supported. As far as the gallery goes, most of the time I've been in I have to say I haven't been overly impressed with the work they've decided to show, but that's just my taste. On occasions there's been pictures that have blown me away, that's more a rarity though. The gallery has great potential for doing some amazing things but I think its stuck in a bit of a rut as far as choice and selection is concerned. Their concept of the community gallery is a great idea; I just wish they could carry it all through properly.

Belfast Exposed was founded in 1983 as a community based arts initiative. The photographers who…read morefounded Belfast Exposed wanted to use the art form of photography as a way to break down barriers in Belfast and the rest of the world. Since then, Belfast Exposed has been holding art exhibitions, community events and also training and development classes for those looking to learn the art form of photography. The gallery exhibition changes every couple of months and hosts a fantastic collection of work from Belfast, Ireland and beyond. Their web site holds a treasure trove of archival material from Belfast and Northern Ireland's past.

Initially I thought this place was an art gallery as it's got a large collection of art on display…read moreand always has a changing window display. It was only in passing the other day when I realised they seem to have expanded into doing framing as well. Or did that always do that and I completely missed it? Either way it good to see the bloke hard at it round the back when I went to get some framing jobs priced up. He was really helpful and explained a couple of different priced options for the sizes I had in mind. For what I wanted I actually got somewhere else to do an excellent job ever so slightly cheaper but if you're thinking or getting something done do call in here for a quote. Pros: Really friendly and will do custom sizes. Cons: if you're getting a lot done it will be expensive.

Cathedral studios which is located high above Donegall Street is soft, white and mellow. Imagine…read morethe quintessential artists studio and this is it. An artist led space which was formed in 2003 and has been home to many artists over the years. Current members are Lisa Ballard, Diana Hadden, John Macormac, Kevin Miller and Tristan Barry. If you plan on visiting Cathedral Studios, be prepared, there's a massive flight of stairs before you reach it, but the climb up is definitely worth the effort. On calling in during Belfast Open Studios 2015 I was parched by the time I'd scaled those stairs and extremely thankful for the Suki Tea which welcomed me. The Artists inhabiting Cathedral are a varied bunch, all working in their own distinctive styles. Lisa Ballard's subtle, beautiful landscapes will take your breath away. She was happy to chat about her work which uses spray paint in conjunction with oils. Ballard's loose, painterly landscapes in soft colours evoke nature in the ever changing light of day. If I had money to buy art my first purchase would be a Lisa Ballard landscape. I was also intrigued by John Macormac's geometric white drawings which he'd applied directly to the black walls of his studio. Macormac eloquently explained his art processes and techniques to the public who dropped in. His studio was bedecked with drums and musical equipment revealing his other role as a musician. A multitalented artist. Go visit Cathedral Studios - you'll love it. It's definitely worth the climb up the mammoth flight of stairs. Roll on Belfast Open Studios 2016 - I can't wait to see what is happening in this space next year.

We visited the Ulster Museum after we had done quite a few other attractions and decided to only…read morefocus on one of the displays, namely the section dedicated to the Troubles. Extremely informative and well-presented.

Great museum with a wide variety of things- like a national museum. So many genres, and we got…read moreextra lucky that there was an exhibit of current artists with art for sale. That exhibit was gigantic and impressive. Only downside of the museum was no acoustical/ absorption to buffer the screeching children. It was well worth a visit if you have spare time in Belfast.

The MAC is a good spot to spend a few hours and get in touch with your arty creative side. There…read moreare normally at least two exhibitions on show which are usually pretty quirky and reminded me alot of some of the galleries I visited in Paris. Exhibitions are very modern and new age quite like the building itself which is architecturally pleasing. Downstairs there is a reception area, kids play area and 'Native' cafe which also serves alcohol. Seating is plentiful and really comfortable. Make sure and go to the 2nd floor of the building where you will find an amazing white leather sofa which once you perch on you will want to just curl up and stay forever. I really want one for home! There are lots of shows in the theatre and upcoming listings can be found at the reception. There are lifts throughout and wheelchair access is excellent. It's also based in St Anne's Square so has a multi storey carpark park nearby and lots of on street parking around the side streets.

Awesome venue with loads of things to offer regarding events…read more Have a good size eating area. I visit here frequently for seminars,lectures and art shows. Their quality of artists that have shows here are world class.

The gallery at Belfast Print Workshop isn't much more than a small room which you walk more or less…read morestraight into from Cotton Court, right opposite the Victorian façade of the Merchant Hotel. A sense of creativity and enthusiasm shows in the collection of prints that are for sale here produced by the workshop members who populate the studio units upstairs. Prints are made in the old fashioned traditional methods of engraving and intaglio and have a special quality that is far removed the computer generated stuff that surrounds us most of the time. I went to an exhibition opening there recently where a rarefied, small artist crowd had gathered which presumably consisted mainly of those associated with the workshop. It's pretty exclusive but also a good way of seeing what the type of work being produced in the higher echelons of the artistic community here in Belfast

Now to be honest I've only ever been here a couple of times before. Once was a long time ago at a…read morekind've 'open night' for the complex where an artist I know had a workshop in there and promised me free red wine. I know, I know...that's a cheap admission. Anyway, I'd only really been aware of the ground level gallery in this great building but it was amazing to check out all the different workshops and the variety of the print making available. Of special note was one dude who spent a lengthy time talking me through the process itself and how he achieved his end result. Apparently you can visit the workshops and buy the work as well. The 'open night' seemed to be successful as well as there seemed to be a lot of people in and buying or ordering work. The gallery downstairs is always worth a look as it every changing and there's plenty of young (and not so young) vibrant art on display. Pros: Unique gallery/workspace. Cons: Small exhibition space.