North Belfast Alternatives

University of Atypical for Arts and Disability is a disabled-led organisation based in Belfast that supports and promotes work by d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent artists in Northern Ireland and beyond. Its mission is to improve creative lives and help disabled people access the arts, guided by values of inclusion, equality, access, and human rights. Key activities include a year-round exhibition programme at its Atypical Gallery and the annual Bounce Arts Festival, which showcases innovative work across multiple art forms. The organisation also runs the Arts and Disability Access Awards, an accreditation scheme for accessibility best practice in other arts organisations. It offers volunteer programmes, artist support, training, and employment opportunities, and has an accessible studio space, the Ledger Studio, available for hire. The organisation's legal name is 'Arts and Disability Forum'.

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is the primary funding and development organisation for the arts sector in the region. It distributes funds from its sponsor, the Department for Communities, and from the National Lottery. The council's mission is to support, develop, and champion high-quality arts and cultural activity by artists, arts practitioners, organisations, and communities throughout Northern Ireland. It aims to make the arts accessible to everyone, creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds to participate and bringing communities together. Reported impact includes a £20.1m investment in the arts, reaching 2.2 million audience members and participants, with 77% population engagement.

Arts for All is a community arts organisation located in Belfast's Cityside Retail Park. For 24 years, it has served as a base for community arts in north Belfast, with a core mission to offer participation in the arts to support community development, education, and social cohesion. The organisation's vision is to help create a more cohesive, confident, and creative community. It believes positive change is achievable through arts projects that improve residents' lives and foster ongoing community involvement. Initiatives include the 'I am Inspired' Project, started in 2017, which provides a space for adults with learning disabilities to engage with various art mediums. Thanks to funders, community art classes are offered at no cost to remove financial barriers. The organisation also operates the John Luke Gallery, an exhibition space for both emerging and established artists, hosting over 24 exhibitions annually.