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Collapse The Box

Collapse The Box hosts in-depth conversations with visual artists and arts professionals at Belfast’s annual Royal Ulster Academy exhibition. Host Noelle McAlinden meets painters, ceramicists, photographers and curators at the Ulster Museum to discuss their work, influences and careers.

The series features established figures like photo collage artist Seán Hillen (who reflects on his Asperger’s diagnosis and award-winning documentary Tomorrow is Saturday), RUA lecturer Dougal McKenzie on figurative painting’s relevance, and Belfast International Arts Festival director Richard Wakely on partnerships and access. Emerging voices include ceramics artist Denise McAuley, 2025 Irish News Prize winner for Best Newcomer, and AE Russell Prize recipient Kate Beagan.

Guests range from art historian Dr. Éimear O’Connor (National Museum of Ireland) to prize-winning artists discussing everything from materiality and memory to disability and representation. Recorded mainly during 2025–2026, the series offers a snapshot of contemporary practice in Ireland – why artists make what they make, and why it still matters.

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Collapse the Box: Alastair MacLennan

Alastair MacLennan is one of Britain’s major practitioners of live art.
Show added:
12/06/2018

Collapse the Box: Dave Sinclair

Photographer Dave Sinclair talks about documenting his native Liverpool and his visit to Belfast in 1988.
Show added:
23/05/2018

Collapse The Box: Betty Brown

Connor McKernan in conversation with Betty Brown, painter and sculptor. Her sculptures have been described as humourous, surreal, ramshackle and engaging.
Show added:
29/12/2017

Collapse the Box: Graham Gingles

The contemporary artist, who is best known for his work involving display boxes featuring sculptures and paintings, talks to Mo McDevitt about his work.
Show added:
10/12/2017

Collapse The Box: Joanna Mules

Joanna Mules is a Belfast-based multi-media artist, who’s work aims to reflect and represent political and social issues of concern to society.
Show added:
10/12/2017

Collapse the Box: Ronnie Hughes

Marianne O’Kane Boal interviews the artist Ronnie Hughes about his work.
Show added:
31/10/2017

Collapse The Box: Brian Connolly

Marianne O’Kane Boal interviews artist and sculptor Brian Connolly at the Ulster University.
Show added:
20/10/2017

Collapse The Box: Felicity Straker Graham

Mo McDevitt interviews the ceramicist, Felicity Straker Graham.
Show added:
10/10/2017

Collapse the Box: Marcus Patton

Conversation with the artist Marcus Patton.
Show added:
27/09/2017

Collapse The Box: Tony Hill

Marianne O’Kane Boal talks to artist Tony Hill at his recent retrospective exhibition which features works of sculpture, painting, photography and video.
Show added:
30/07/2017

Collapse the Box: Anto Brennan

Connor McKernan interviews North Belfast Artist Anto Brennan, who practices in sculpture, paint and drawing and his work is often used as a vehicle, to reflect the ongoing political and social issues in Northern Ireland.
Show added:
26/07/2017

Collapse the Box: Ricky Darling

Mo McDevitt visits the Engine Room Gallery to talk with artist Ricky Darling about his work.
Show added:
21/07/2017
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