Six of Belfast's leading designers and makers have each received a £2,000 Craft & Design Mentorship Bursary, a partnership between Belfast City Council and Craft NI aimed at strengthening skills and professional development.

The scheme enables recipients to choose an established designer or craftsperson as a mentor, with sign painter and gilder Laura Nelson and lettering artist Tony Moore travelling to Barcelona and Limerick respectively to work with mentors, refine their practice and learn new techniques.

Councillor Joe Duffy, Chair of Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee said: "Belfast is a city absolutely bursting with creative talent, and it is vital that we nurture it at every level."

"From the preservation of traditional heritage skills like gilding and ceramics to the vibrant, modern energy of our street art and music scenes, the incredible range of culture-led bursaries shows our commitment to investing directly in our people.

"By partnering with organizations like Craft NI, The Duncairn and Seedhead Arts, we are ensuring our local artists have the support, global mentorship, and safe spaces they need to thrive, innovate, and shape the unique cultural landscape of our city."

"The mentorship was so useful," said lettering artist Tony Moore. "I'd been painting signs around the city for years, but it's definitely added to my skillset. I'm currently producing new hand-painted signage at the Deer's Head, using some of the techniques I picked up from my mentor." Laura Nelson underlined how the award helps safeguard declining heritage crafts. She said: "I've been trying to secure this kind of specialised training for years because the craft is dying out. I feel incredibly lucky to have received this mentorship."

The other four bursary recipients are ceramicists Helen Faulkner and Derek Wilson, textile designer Alison Pascoe (specialising in macramé), and stained-glass artist Kerrie Hanna.

Alongside the bursaries, the Council announced several active cultural initiatives supporting artists at different career stages. Applications are now open for the Belfast Street Art Mentorship Award, offering six £2,000 bursaries for one-to-one professional development. Previous participants include Friz (augmented reality, Edinburgh) and Wee Nuls (realism, Ghent). The deadline is 12 noon on Thursday 2 July 2026.

At Botanic Gardens, stained-glass artist Kerrie Hanna is running 'Show and Tell' sessions in the Tropical Ravine, interpreting the site's botanical collections and natural heritage. The next event takes place on Friday 10 July at 1.30pm.

The Gradam Ceoil Traditional Music Bursary, delivered with The Duncairn, provides tailored mentorship, career development and performance opportunities for emerging traditional musicians. This year's recipients are Jack McGoldrick, Eimear Magee & Peadar Connor.

Teenage Kicks micro-grants, aimed at venues, festivals and event organisers, support safe, high-quality live music nights for young people without alcohol. Details of upcoming events will be shared on the Council's social media channels in the coming months.

Finally, in collaboration with Belfast Visual Arts Forum, the Council is producing a new edition of The Belfast Art Map to showcase the city's galleries, studios and public artworks, launching ahead of the Fleadh (2–9 August). During the festival, the Belfast Canvas project will bring dynamic live animation to streets across the city.