ArtsEkta, Northern Ireland’s leading intercultural arts organisation, is proud to announce the launch of My Place, Our Place, a transformative three-year initiative designed to deepen socially engaged artistic practice and promote cultural inclusivity. Supported by Paul Hamlyn Foundation, through their Arts Fund, the programme will create meaningful opportunities for culturally diverse communities, participants, and artists, fostering a shared sense of identity and belonging across the region.

The programme has been developed in response to an extensive evidence base gathered over the past five years and seeks to address critical gaps in access and participation in cultural life. The initiative aims to build community capacity, confidence, and engagement through a collaborative and co-design methodology.

With £250,000 of investment over the next three years key opportunities will include:

1. Long-Term Creative Residencies:
The programme will establish creative residencies within communities facing inequalities, including asylum seekers, refugees, new migrants, older people, and those impacted by the legacy of conflict. These residencies will explore cultural identity, heritage, and traditions, promoting community cohesion, integration, and empowerment.

2. Artist Commissioning Programme:
Recognising the under-representation of culturally diverse artists, ArtsEkta will support the creation of socially engaged works by these artists. By addressing barriers to entry the programme aims to build trust and open pathways for new migrants and culturally diverse artists to thrive in the Northern Ireland arts sector.

3. Sector Support Programme: ArtsEkta will provide professional development opportunities, mentoring schemes, advocacy, and consultancy to strengthen the cultural sector’s capacity to engage with diverse communities. This support will formalise ArtsEkta’s position as a sector leader in intercultural arts.

4. Research Programme:
Partnering with Queen’s University, the programme will conduct in-depth research to evaluate the impact of socially engaged arts on communities. The findings will contribute to broader sector learning and refine ArtsEkta’s artistic practices.

Dr. Nisha Tandon OBE, Founder and CEO of ArtsEkta said:

“Our vision for My Place, Our Place is to create meaningful, long-term change in how Northern Ireland’s diverse communities experience and contribute to the cultural landscape. This programme embodies our belief in the power of the arts to bridge divides, foster understanding, and celebrate the richness of diversity. We are extremely grateful to Paul Hamlyn Foundation for supporting this work and giving us the space to develop our creative practice”

Sonia Mehta, Grants Manager, Paul Hamlyn Foundation said:

“ArtsEkta is an exemplary model of inclusive, culturally diverse practice. Based in Belfast, they foreground diverse arts practices to nurture joy and develop intercultural relationships in the city and beyond. My Place, Our Place promises to bring communities together to co-produce work, share their experiences and foster belonging. We hope this grant will support ArtsEkta to continue to work towards a more equitable and inclusive cultural sector in Northern Ireland.”

My Place, Our Place is set to launch this Spring, with community residencies, artist opportunities, and sector support programmes rolling over the next three years. For more information about the initiative or to get involved, please contact us