Ulster University

THE highlight of my year is ALWAYS the Ulster University (UU) end of year art and design exhibition. It’s a fabulous, free day out where you can wander around the Belfast campus of UU enjoying recent graduate artwork. Also known as Belfast School of Art or The Art College. The building itself is an impressive architectural delight, full of natural light and is warm, welcoming and modern in atmosphere and design. Home to BA, Masters and PhD courses in all areas of design, fine arts, craft and architecture. You can literally see everything here — ceramics, silversmithing, jewellery, sculpture, painting, installation art, graphic design, film, interior and architecture etc. The graduate show is open to the public for approximately a week each June. Wear comfy shoes, as once you’re in Belfast School of Art you’ll literally spend a full day taking in all the wonderful, exciting and sometimes weird art on display. Most of the art is for sale, so if you fall in love with a piece you might be able to buy it — and who knows — it might even be by a future superstar Artist!
Follow on Twitter @BelfastSchArt or via their website to keep track of the dates for the annual student exhibition ~

Most of my university days where spent up in Jordanstown but I did have to come to this campus a couple of times. I love the glass bridge that crosses the road linking one building to another. I first saw them whilst in Calgary and apart from it being a time saving innovation they also prevent people form being completely frozen as they would get cold cold winters. I’m not sure Belfast can claim to have the same climate so I have to resolve that art students are just too lazy to go outside and cross the street. This campus is exciting and is newly refurbished, being in Belfast makes it easily accessible for students. However there are not car parks, so for students driving they will have to either pay big for street parking or for nearby multistory solutions.
Every year this campus is used as a gallery to show all of the students work and presentations, definitely worth a night out.