A new project is calling on the public to take pictures of “the unloved spaces of Belfast and to imagine what they could become”.
An arts groups is asking the public to upload the snaps of “forgotten spaces” along with an idea of how they could be transformed. And the best ideas are in line for a cash prize, organiers say.
The Forgotten Spaces project is a new Liminal Space Belfast project in partnership with the Imagine! Festival of Ideas & Politics which “seeks to involve the public in discussion about how to regenerate the city”.
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The organisers say the project is “designed to be the first stage of a process that will highlight and map a range of forgotten spaces with the intention of making use of them in future programming with the Imagine! Festival and other partners”.
The public are invited to submit details for an online exhibition of a derelict site or “forgotten space” which will be hosted on the festival’s website.
A competition for the best image and description will take place with prizes awarded for the best entries as part of the forthcoming Imagine! Belfast Festival of Ideas & Politics.
Project curator, Meadhbh McIlgorm, said: “Liminal Space Belfast has developed a number of exciting projects that use alleyways and entries to host outdoor exhibitions and performances. Forgotten Spaces is an extension of this work, and I hope we can help regenerate forgotten and neglected places to help reimagine the city.”
The open call for people to submit photos and comments about their unloved spaces is now open on the Imagine! Festival website (imaginebelfast.com) and will close on February 12. Submissions will be exhibited, with a public vote, on the website during March, and will be presented at a special event and prize giving during the festival on March 22 in the Europa Hotel. Category prizes of (£100, £75 and £50) for the best images and best descriptions will be decided by public vote and by a selection panel at the event.
Peter O’Neill, Imagine! Festival Director: “We want the citizens of Belfast to share images of their favourite unloved spaces which deserve some attention. We also want to hear what they could become in the first step towards regeneration and useful purpose.
"The festival seeks to stimulate new ideas on politics and culture so we are delighted to support this exciting new project which will hopefully capture the imagination of local people who care about the future of this great city.”
Organisers say there is no restriction on who can enter but no more than three entries per person are allowed and that spaces featured must be within the Belfast City Council boundary.
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