Exhibitions and displays

Available during library opening hours from Monday 22 September until Friday 10 October.

This exhibition will be available to view during normal opening hours.
Inspire, the mental health and wellbeing charity, is marking its 65th anniversary with a poignant and powerful exhibition, INSPIRED, bringing together the stories of its service users and staff.

The multi-media exhibition consists of everyday items, each belonging to one individual and prompting a story or memory of a specific point in their life. Each seemingly mundane article (a set of car jump leads, a 1970s iron, a pair of running shoes, a front door key) has a deeply personal story conveyed through audio narration by the story-tellers themselves.  Each shares intimate reflections on their experiences, reflects on their past and, with support from Inspire, looks ahead to the future. 

Jenny Bailey local artist presents a journey through County Down using the techniques of printing.

Available during library opening hours.

The Buildings Around Us: an exhibition of collage and mix media showcasing the local area's buildings by artist Alicja Gadja.

Available during library opening hours.
 

Maria's oil on canvas paintings capture the joy and vitality of life through rolling countryside, imbued with innocence.

Available during library opening hours.

A joint project by Libraries NI and PRONI. It was done to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. However, the  content is more than that and it focuses on documents and materials held by PRONI and items from the Fine Book Room in Belfast Central Library.

Available during library opening hours.
 

Robert Bloomer's quirky illustrations and cartoons of local buildings and places of interest have been displayed in solo exhibitions throughout Northern Ireland, including the Ulster Hospital's Art Wall. 

Available during library opening hours.

This exhibition marks the 400th anniversary of the Derry Walls and showcases some of the oldest documents and images from the period held by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI). The exhibition explores many aspects of the plantation which transformed Ulster in the early 17th century.

Available during library opening hours.

Local artist Anna Mercer's Quilling exhibition.

Available during library opening hours.

Enjoy a display of botanical watercolour paintings by local artist Maurice Shannon. Maurice started painting during his foundation year at university and discovered a love of watercolours through his tutor Neil Shawcross. Having decided to take a step back from his professional work, Maurice now spends more time in his home studio. 

Maurice is a member of Visual Artists Ireland and The Ulster Watercolour Society.

An exhibition highlighting how during WW1 11 members of staff from Belfast Public Libraries enlisted in various regiments of the British Army. Over two hundred letters were exchanged between these 'library men' and the Chief Librarian between 1914 and 1919.

Available during library opening hours.

An Exhibition by Hillsborough Art Society.

Available during library opening hours.

This display was created by the Friel Reimagined project from Brian Friel’s papers which have been deposited with the National Library of Ireland with the aim of opening them up to wider audiences.

Available during library opening hours.

Adult exhibition by Brain Injury Matters and Ciaran Elizabeth Doran, curator
1st to 30th October during branch opening hours.

28th October from 11-12.30pm - Visitors can come and meet the group on.

The exhibition is a series of hand drawn chalk board panels along with soft appliqué, embroidered textile panels that were created at a series of workshops with Brain Injury Matters creatives, curated and facilitated by Ciaran Elizabeth Doran.

Each panel illustrates a range of behaviours that were learned consciously or sub-consciously from our parents, our carers or our family members in childhood. 

Ballymena Central Library is proud to host Seen, a powerful exhibition developed by artist Kate Nicholl, illustrator Oliver Jeffers, and the Anaka Women’s Collective. First shown at Stormont and recently at the Nerve Centre, Seen gives voice to children in the asylum system, showcasing their hopes, dreams, and experiences through art and storytelling. Part of the literary strand of a cross-border project promoting creativity and cultural engagement, the exhibition highlights the role of storytelling in building empathy and understanding across communities.

Visitors are invited to experience the children’s artwork and words, reflecting on themes of identity, resilience, and belonging, and to consider the power of creativity to bridge divides.

Available during library opening hours.

Come and visit Lisnaskea Library to see the 'Colours of Culture' exhibition showcasing Irish and Highland dance (from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council).

Available during library opening hours.

Available during library opening hours from Monday 13 October until Friday 31 October.

As part of Book Week NI

Communical Primary school wall art – turning children into part of the story while also celebrating imagination!

Theme:” You are part of the story”

The wall art should feel like a giant open book, where children are stepping into the pages.

Design elements – 
Colour in castles, dragons, magical forests. hidden treasures, animals of fairies.

Or – Fill out speech bubbles -What story will you tell today. 

This exhibition will be available to view during normal opening hours.
Inspire, the mental health and wellbeing charity, is marking its 65th anniversary with a poignant and powerful exhibition, INSPIRED, bringing together the stories of its service users and staff.
The multi-media exhibition consists of everyday items, each belonging to one individual and prompting a story or memory of a specific point in their life. Each seemingly mundane article (a set of car jump leads, a 1970s iron, a pair of running shoes, a front door key) has a deeply personal story conveyed through audio narration by the story-tellers themselves. Each shares intimate reflections on their experiences, reflects on their past and, with support from Inspire, looks ahead to the future. 

Lucky Literary Labyrinth (Halloween mystery book display) available from Monday 27 October until Friday 31 October.

Adult exhibition by Brain Injury Matters and Ciaran Elizabeth Doran, curator 1st to 30th October during branch opening hours. Meet the artists event on 28 October.

Booking not required.

The Sloane's Local History Group will be launching a new exhibition of photographs, publications and war memorabilia in Killyleagh Library. The collection was gifted to the Sloane's by the family of Martin McCloy, a founding member of the local history group.

The exhibition will run in conjunction with their annual War Memorial exhibition throughout November.

Booking not required.
 

U3A Art exhibition 
1st November- 28th November 
Launch date is Thursday 6th November 11:00-12.30pm.
Tea and Coffee provided.

This exhibition will be available to view during normal opening hours.
Inspire, the mental health and wellbeing charity, is marking its 65th anniversary with a poignant and powerful exhibition, INSPIRED, bringing together the stories of its service users and staff.
The multi-media exhibition consists of everyday items, each belonging to one individual and prompting a story or memory of a specific point in their life. Each seemingly mundane article (a set of car jump leads, a 1970s iron, a pair of running shoes, a front door key) has a deeply personal story conveyed through audio narration by the story-tellers themselves. Each shares intimate reflections on their experiences, reflects on their past and, with support from Inspire, looks ahead to the future.