A new £1.5 million facility dedicated to arts and technology has been officially opened in South Belfast by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Tracy Kelly. The Sandy Row Arts & Digital Hub, operated by Belfast South Community Resources, occupies a formerly derelict building that has been completely revitalised through joint funding from Belfast City Council and The Executive Office's Urban Villages Initiative.

The hub is designed to serve as a multi-purpose community asset:

• Ground Floor: An art studio hosting Northern Ireland's first community-based artist-in-residence. Managed by Flax Art Studios, this space will facilitate classes and projects for schools, local groups, and individuals.

• First Floor: A modern digital suite providing IT training, professional exams, and testing facilities. It will also offer essential support for residents navigating online services.

• Top Floor: Dedicated residential accommodation for the artist-in-residence.

Lord Mayor Councillor Tracy Kelly highlighted the project as a vital part of a wider regeneration strategy for the area. She noted that the hub follows the recent £250,000 Sandy Row Revitalisation Scheme, which provided grants to businesses affected by city centre roadworks. Councillor Kelly stated: "I'm delighted to help officially open this fantastic new hub in the heart of south Belfast which will provide state-of-the-art facilities for the community, while also helping to bring people from further afield to the area. Belfast City Council has been working very closely with the local community to plan and deliver this and several other projects, which we hope will act as a catalyst for further regeneration in the area following a few challenging years.

"This week has been a very positive week for Sandy Row, with work also getting underway on Coffee Culture, a £1.2 million project which will transform another vacant building into a new café and barista training centre. The project, which is funded by the Belfast City Council, Urban Villages and the Department for Communities, aims to create job opportunities for the community while also providing a pool of skilled workers for the city's hospitality sector."

The Lord Mayor also referenced upcoming projects, including the Sandy Row Open Space Project at Blythefield Park, which is set for completion later this year, and plans for new sensory equipment at the Bentham Drive play park.

Nikki Johnston of Belfast South Community Resources emphasised the long-term benefits of the new facility:

"The Arts & Digital Hub is a major step forward for Sandy Row, representing a significant investment in local people and transforming a vacant site into a vibrant centre for creativity, digital learning and opportunity. Through our partnership with Flax Art Studios and the expansion of our community-run Examination and Digital Centre social enterprise, the Hub will support qualifications, skills and confidence while reinvesting in local programmes and ensuring the area is not left behind as Belfast advances its wider innovation and digital ambitions."