Bronagh Lawson is an artist based in Belfast who has written a blog about the vibrant local contemporary visual arts scene for the last ten years. Previously starting as a participant then manager she ran cross-community cross border development programmes for 13 years.
Originally from Portaferry and Strangford she is a Fulbright scholar and graduate of Winchester School of Art.
Bronagh is a co-founder of the Hydrangea project a Belfast — a Chicago collaboration which uses contemporary art underpinned with art therapy to act as a healing mechanism. Her book 'Belfast City of Light: Looking and Listening to Belfast Come with Me' is based on her experience as a non-churchgoer attending every church in Belfast for a service over a ten year period.
AS Connswater shopping centre in East Belfast announced its closure five different arts organisations that had found shelter from the storm of arts funding and had units there are now homeless.
DERVLA O'Flaherty's artwork in the Cultúrlann could benefit from some non-reflective glass but the 'Other World Trouble/Trioblóid sa Domhan Eile' exhibition of paintings has a strange and gentle charm.
Deborah Stockdale textile artist talking about her work at the Guildhall on the Plantation @ConflictTextiles #StitchingSolidarity pic.twitter.com/jd3ZdIfIlV — INCORE Ulster University (@INCOREinfo) March 1, 2025
THE plight of Afghan women cannot be overstated. My first experience of them was in Chicago when a group of young women who had been studying in Canada and were lobbying to stop the war in Afghanistan formed Afghans for Peace. They joined Iraq Veterans against the war on a march against NATO in 2012.
University of Ulster Derry and Belfast is hosting a free Conflict Textiles symposium. You may not have given the idea of textiles and conflict much thought, but it's a fascinating subject nevertheless.
THE 4 Corners Festival in its 13th year invited us to contemplate 'Home'.
A CORNER of my heart opened for North Belfast when I worked there and met the people, saw the places, heard the stories and saw the potential for it to shine.
FANCY designing a poster for International Women's Day?
THE lurgy took away the first two weeks of my year, just as it did with a lot of people. Emerging in recent days out of a cocoon of illness and being able to be in public without having a coughing fit has seemed like an achievement.
THE 4 Corners Festival theme this year is 'Home'. Father Martin Magill, Reverend Steve Stockman and the entire 4 Corners team invite you to experience yourself differently.
WHAT to do with a creative child? It’s that time of the year that I feel overwhelmed with the recommendation to buy your child or grandchild a sketchbook, crayons, pencils or felt tips. These once expensive items can be bought for as little as £1 in your newsagent, bargain shop or somewhere like hobby craft.
SEVEN years ago Lecturer Dougal Mackenzie of the Belfast School of Art instigated the Art Unwrapped programme where a singular artist in the National Art collection is shown as a gift to the city of Belfast around Christmas.
CITYSIDE shopping centre is filled with a bit of seasonal sorcery this Christmas with Cahoots theatre company's production of the Sorcerer's Apprentice
DECEMBER is a time of year when we can be overloaded with demands but I'm a sucker for an artist's craft fair or an open studio and always try to get along to one. It's a good way to see what's going on in the city while supporting artists and creatives in their livelihoods, capturing someone at an important point in their career and discovering places in the city not so familiar. So break out the piggy bank and come with me as we pay a festive visit.