2025 Festival Events 

Full symposium schedule TBA

Join us for a morning exploration through a selection of Belfast’s galleries, with mindful drawings sessions, a talk from artist Molly Martin, with teas and coffees.

'@ Queen's Film Theatre

Join artist and zine maker Helen Gomez at Paperxclips Books to delve into the world on zine making.

Art Route Collective works with refugee and asylum seekers with the aim of improving emotional health and social wellbeing.

Sociable aerobics inspired art workout, using large pieces of paper, strings, charcoal and sticks.

Join us for a FREE guided tour of our current exhibition, As Far As The Eye Can See: Contemporary Painting from ABC every Wednesday and Saturday at 11.30am. Image: Ian Cumberland, ‘An unseen act’, 2025
No need to book, meet at the information desk.

Do you have an area in your practice you need help with or would just like some advice on where to go next?  Artists can book in for a FREE one-to-one appointment to discuss any aspects of their professional careers.

This is a monthly gathering for creatives, artists, facilitators, arts organisations and their employees.

‘Get Pumped’ is an interactive performance piece that promotes physical activity, confidence building and group-play in a fun, entertaining and supportive setting. 

A networking event that connects local practitioners, communities and initiatives with an interest in mental health, displacement and the arts.

Join BBDB who hold weekly live art performance meetings every Friday from 12 noon until 1pm on Society Street, Derry.

Hester Ectomy hosts an evening of drawing and drinking!

 Led by Gail Mahon, artist-mover-researcher, the workshop will consider our connection to the more-than-human and ancestral practices of walking, carrying, gathering, and sharing.

Our comedy nights are an eclectic mix of the weird, the wonderful, and the wildly entertaining Line up will include Heather Anderson, Luke McGibbon, Tiff Minson and Ian Thomson. 18+

We open our doors to you with an opportunity to try out this wonderful dance of Argentine Tango.

Centered on lived experiences and trauma-informed principles, it shifts the focus from “what’s wrong with you?” to “what happened to you?” through conversations, presentations, poetry, and maybe even some singing!

This 6-week course involves experimenting with colour and techniques to create a gorgeous riverscape scene.

Details TBC.

Lauren Martin debuts her new single, in a special online performance for NIMHAF.

Celebrate this showcase of talented artist by joining us for a Sunday market in partnership with Queer Belfast. Drop-in workshop included, hosted by Jonah Williams.

Kippie CIC will be helping artist & arts educationalist Justine Scoltock show how to rework, sketch and plan out traditional art using Layers and collage on the iPad.

Dr Adam Flynn presents contrasting footage, aiming to lead a discussion around solipsism and the human aspect of mental health.

Brain Injury Matters’ Creative Writers invite you to hear their modern adaptations of classic tales and rhymes, updated with their unique flair and humour.

Black Moon is a monthly, disabled led club night at the Black Box.

Taking the 80th anniversary of World War 2 as its inspiration, Reverberation is a performance of songs, stories and poetry that explores the theme of conflict both internal and external.

Children aged 8 to 80 years are welcome to join artist Damien Coyle in producing a community painting.

The Black Box Open Mic is back for it’s (mostly) monthly outing featuring musicians, poets and comedians with regular host Jessie Fletcher trying their best to keep things vaguely on schedule.

This symposium seeks to explore how the arts could be more engaged in addressing the health disparities of this population.

Celebrate the Open Decks first birthday, a monthly event were early career and aspiring DJ’s can take to the decks and perform, a night of electronic music, dancing, and fun. Free Admission.

Spend your lunch break with us and listen to the wonderful words from a range of poets. Celebrating the creative talents of published & emerging poets from across the Island of Ireland. Poetry can pierce the heart & the soul & provide sanctuary for the mind.

A collaboration of spoken word, poetic movement, videography, inspired by personal experience, the often unspoken of challenges that have shaped us.

A therapeutic workshop based on letting go and enjoying the wonderful sensory benefits of the arts.

An evening of two short plays - with themes of suicide and some strong language. 

Rostrevor Light Orchestra will present their Spring Concert on Sunday 18th May at 4pm in St Mary’s Star of the Sea Church.

This workshop will explore how we can create table based art displays, which will bring the garden and seasonal influences indoors.

New Script for Mental Health activists will share their personal contributions to an upcoming Rest of the Story anthology.

Tenx9 is a storytelling event where nine people have up to ten minutes each to tell a true story from their own life.

Mindful Drawing is a way to relax your mind and to express yourself through colour, lines, and pattern.

A free mindful silk painting workshop with local artist, Deborah Malcomson.

Glenn Miller presents Marching Minds, a special live edition of the Made to Parade podcast, recorded in front of an audience as part of the Mental Health Arts Festival.

An afternoon gathering and ritual experience to revive participants and nurture our creativity.

​

During the pandemic, when gathering in public was not permitted, Bbeyond created online zoom meetings James King and the BBDB, similar to the PS2 online drawing project. The online meetings have continued and offer an opportunity for our global network to connect through performance art online. email bbeyond@europe.com for the link
Tickets: Free, contact bbeyond@europe.com for tickets

Carlo Gébler reads from his new book, A Cold Eye, Notes From a Shared Island 1989 – 2024. Followed by a discussion with Noelle Mc Alinden.

Join Art is collective, a weekly multi-ability group of artists that meet in 2 Royal Avenue, to work on a large-scale improv drawing. Loosen up your creativity and see where it goes. Materials provided or bring your own.

Art Route Collective works with refugee and asylum seekers with the aim of improving emotional health and social wellbeing in partnership with agencies such as Home Plus NI, Ark Housing, Extern, DePaul and Council for the Homeless NI.

Join Rory Mc Swiggan founder of The Chicken Box Comedy Night as he hosts an evening of Stand Up for Mental Health in his Award winning Comedy Night featuring the very best of Stand-up Comedy from Derry Londonderry & across N. Ireland. 18+

Join BBDB who hold weekly live art performance meetings every Friday from 12 noon until 1pm on Society Street, Derry. These performance meetings are followed by lunch and a chat (optional). BBDB is run by James King and is connected to Bbeyond www.bbeyond.live

A dedicated row to raising awareness of mental health and wellbeing on the Fermanagh waterways.

Tap into your creative side with a unique blend of yoga and art—a fusion of mindful movement followed by a guided creative workshop.

Doors 8.00pm, Event begins: 8.30pm

Dance, sway, or simply listen to the magical sounds of ORTHA and Ruby Valor.

Join us for these six weeks of a deeply soothing relaxation and mindfulness class that harnesses the power of sound baths to guide you into a meditative state

Join us to explore the exhibitions on offer with a guided tour of Bangor Late Night Art.