Visual Arts

“I’d this interest in art, but I’d never heard of any art classes, yes there are plenty of art classes, but a lot of them are mainstream. You go, you sit, you get your own piece out and you work. I can’t manage that with my visual impairment, but Acorn is fantastic, everything is prepared, we say what we would like to do, what materials, what fabrics, different tactile and patterns we would like to do, it’s all accepted.”

Open Arts currently offers 3 weekly visual arts groups.

Open Arts Group

Monday 10:30am – 12:30pm at Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast.

Our participants have their own specific interest and talents in particular mediums and work on crafts, textiles and group projects. 

Wednesday 10am – 12pm at Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast 

Acorn Arts 

Thursday 10am – 12pm at Divis Community Centre, Falls Road, Belfast. 

This group is for blind or visually impaired people who work in a variety of mediums. Acorn Arts is supported by Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and Belfast Institute for the Blind.

Our Exhibitions

Our exhibitions are always varied and interesting as we have such a range of people involved in producing the artwork.The most recent exhibition was “The Veil Betweenat the Duncairn Centre for Culture and Arts, Belfast in March 2020.

You can watch highlights from our exhibition launch evening in the YouTube video below.

 Over recent years we have also exhibited in:

  • The MAC Theatre
  • The Black Box 
  • The Crescent Arts Centre
  • Ulster Hall
  • The Barge, Belfast
  • Linen Hall Library
Twelve small square prints made with ink
Three women in front of two exhibition pieces at launch of exhibition at MAC Theatre, Belfast in 2017.
Promo shot of Open Arts CEO and three members from our visual art groups for the opening of Three in One Arts exhibtion at Black Box, Belfast.
Group picture of two facilitators and four members of the Open Arts visual art group at the launch evening in Linen Hall Library 2013.