Ulster University’s Belfast School of Art announces partnership with NCAD, during 175th Anniversary Year
Two of Ireland’s leading art and design schools will partner to promote cross-cultural understanding and enable creative exchange in art and design education
Ulster University Belfast School of Art (BSoA) has announced an official partnership with the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in Dublin. The partnership is cemented through signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) uniting two premier institutions on the island of Ireland, and Ireland’s oldest art and design Colleges, with a shared commitment to fostering innovation, knowledge exchange, and creative collaboration.
The MOU, which comes as BSoA celebrates its 175th Anniversary, marks a new chapter for both schools offering students, staff, and alumni the opportunity to come together and join resources to create meaningful exchanges of artistic knowledge and practice.
The collaborative agreement is designed to build upon shared values for creative education and leadership, enhancing cross-border cooperation across campuses and the island of Ireland.
Key areas of collaboration
Both creative schools will come together to explore and develop opportunities for research collaborations; exchanges among staff and students through shared island and international mobilities; the possibility for new joint degrees to build upon our individual expertise and emerging fields of mutual interest; and art and design collaborations, among other activities.
Dr Brian Dixon, Head of the Belfast School of Art:
“We are delighted to be signing the MOU with the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in Dublin, a move that opens new doors for cross-border creative collaboration within the arts. This agreement brings together our respective strengths, offering fresh perspectives on academic programs, research, and artistic practice through the exchange of ideas across cultures.
“As we celebrate our 175th anniversary under the theme ‘Celebrating Past, Present, Future,’ we will reflect on the contributions of the BSoA since its formation and how it has maintained a connection to its roots, but also look at how it is continuing to build on its legacy today, by working alongside partners beyond our borders. This partnership is a great example of how bright the future looks for art and design education across the island of Ireland.”
Professor Sarah Glennie, Director of NCAD, shares her views on the MOU signing with the Belfast School of Art at Ulster University:
“This coming together to explore possibilities for cooperation across research, academic and student exchanges marks a significant moment for an all-island approach to the creative sector, art and design education, and the development of creative leadership across Ireland. We are thrilled to find in Belfast School of Art an institution with shared values around diversity and inclusion, research and internationalisation, and innovation.”
2024 marks the 175th anniversary of the Belfast School of Art, the oldest school within Ulster University. Established in 1849 as a School of Design to support the development of much needed skills for Belfast’s growing industrial base in areas such as textile production and shipbuilding. This makes it the oldest provider of design education on the island of Ireland and one of the oldest creative arts schools in the UK.
To celebrate, a packed programme of events including exhibitions, workshops, activities, and lectures will run through October and November.
See the full programme of events and book tickets here: The 175 Programme - Belfast School of Art (ulster.ac.uk)
A Snapshot of Upcoming BSoA Events
• Acclaimed international visual artist, filmmaker, cultural organiser, and educator Phil Collins will host the UK and Ireland premiere of Mixtape #1, an unorthodox view of his decades-long work in moving image, in Belfast, the city where he studied his craft before embarking on a distinguished career as a visual artist. He is internationally renowned for a socially engaged practice that addresses the intersections of art, politics and popular culture.
• An exclusive live art performance by Alastair MacLennan, one of the UK’s most significant and prolific performance artists and a founding member of Belfast's Beyond Performance Art International.
• A celebration event with the Ulster Museum marking the 50th Anniversary of Joseph Beuys’ visit to Belfast. A significant encounter that led to a strong relationship between Beuys visit and the establishment of the Masters of Fine Art, a prestigious Masters programme. Beuys was influential on social issues, sustainability and the environment and had a lasting legacy on the programme.
• The Chancellor’s address: in Conversation with Colin Davidson – globally acclaimed artist and University Chancellor will deliver the 175 address. He will reflect on the wider role of the Belfast School of Art in shaping the cultural fabric of the city and on the role of the School in the institution and the value of a creative arts education in the twenty-first century.
• A keynote address by world-renowned Irish artist and BSoA alumna Alice Maher will share her reflections on her time on the MFA Fine Art programme and the profound influence Belfast has had on her work. Following on, a broader panel, comprised of MFA alumni through the decades, will then explore the wider impact and legacy of the programme, underscoring its role in fostering a dynamic artistic community, deeply intertwined with the cultural fabric of the region.
• Internationally recognised painter, sculptor and illustrator Oliver Jeffers will also give a keynote, reflecting on his time at BSoA.
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Notes to Editor
For more information, please contact the Ulster University Press Office at pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk
About Ulster University
Ulster University is a forward-looking institution, uniquely placed to drive economic, social and cultural development through our three campuses at Derry~Londonderry, Coleraine and Belfast.
Student experience is at the very heart of everything we do and our high-quality teaching, informed by world-leading research across key sectors, boosts the economy and makes a positive impact on the lives of people around the world.
• Ulster University is ranked No. 1 for Best UK University, careers services and job prospects, as voted upon by students. It is also ranked in the top five for value for money, course content, campus and facilities, personal tutors and teaching quality. (StudentCrowd, 2024).
• Ulster University is ranked in the top 25 universities in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2025).
• Ulster University is in the top 10 for course quality rankings across the UK (University Compare 2023).
• 93% of Ulster University students are in employment or further study 15 months after graduating (Student Outcomes 2020/21).
Research and Innovation at Ulster University
Ulster University was ranked in the top 10% of UK universities for research impact in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
Headline results for Ulster University include:
• In the top 10% of UK universities for research impact.
• 97 % of Ulster University’s research impact having outstanding or very considerable impacts in reach and significance.
• 80.1% of Ulster University’s research outputs have been assessed as ‘world leading or ‘internationally excellent’.
For more information, please visit www.ulster.ac.uk or follow us on Twitter @ulsteruni.
About the National College of Art and Design (NCAD)
For over 270 years NCAD has represented excellence in art and design education. NCAD’s role has continually evolved to reflect the needs of community and industry, enabling our students and alumni to imagine future possibilities and shape the world around us. NCAD’s pedagogical approach is to build learning through practice and research, through making, doing and creating. NCAD has always had critical practice at the heart of its curriculum.
Our graduates, whether in Design, Fine Art, Education or Visual Culture are equipped to approach situations, questions or challenges through a process of creative thinking. They are well-qualified to bring their creativity and skills to many different careers when they leave NCAD, and NCAD graduates have gone on to make their mark in many areas of the economy and society.
Headline results for NCAD include:
• 60th in the world for the teaching of art and design (QS World Rankings 2024).
• 23rd in Europe for the teaching of art and design.
• NCAD is a Recognised College of the University College, Dublin (UCD).
