Piece by Piece: A Shared Roots Mosaic Workshop

Step into the story of the Good Shepherd Gate Lodge and explore how places — and communities — are shaped over time.

Like many historic buildings in Belfast, the Gate Lodge has lived many lives. Restored and reimagined, it is made up of layers — much like a mosaic, where small, individual pieces come together to form something whole.

In this workshop, you’ll create your own mosaic tile, using ceramics, colour, and pattern to explore ideas of identity, belonging, and connection.

Mosaic is a craft found across cultures — from Roman and Byzantine traditions to intricate geometric patterns across the Middle East and North Africa — each using fragments to tell stories and mark shared spaces. Inspired by this, you’ll design a tile that reflects:

• your own story or identity
• symbols, colours, or patterns from your culture or influences
• a response to Belfast and its layered history
• or what “shared roots” means to you

As part of the workshop, you’ll be invited to contribute a small element or motif from your design to a collective Shared Roots mosaic, bringing together pieces created by participants across the programme. This collaborative artwork will grow over time — reflecting the many voices, stories, and cultures that shape the space.

Shared Roots is part of the From Multiculturalism to Interculturalism led by ArtsEkta, Kabosh and Cairde na Cille under the Belfast Local Community Action Plan, supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.