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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: David Esler

The art of David Esler, who has worked as a stained glass artist for over 40 years.
Show added:
02/04/2019

Collapse the Box: Richard Croft

The work of painter and printmaker Richard Croft, who came to Belfast in 1959 to teach in Dunlambert School.
Show added:
14/12/2018

Collapse The Box: Leslie Nicholl

‘God is on leave’ is a tribute to the men who fought in the First World War by Bangor Artist Leslie Nicholl.
Show added:
27/11/2018

Collapse The Box: Ivor Coburn

Mo McDevitt in conversation with Ivor Coburn, Academician of the Royal Ulster Academy, who specialises in botanical studies and has been awarded six gold medals from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Show added:
13/11/2018

Collapse The Box: John Breakey

Mo McDevitt in conversation with artist and lithographer John Breakey.
Show added:
07/11/2018

Collapse the Box: Jim Manley

Mo McDevitt in conversation with award winning artist Jim Manley, discussing his mixed media style which encompasses water colour, acrylic, pastel and collage.
Show added:
23/10/2018

Collapse The Box: Mavis Thomson

Enniskillen artist Mavis Thomson, is a master of watercolours and featured exhibitor at the Royal Ulster Academy of Arts.
Show added:
26/09/2018

Collapse The Box: Chris Dearden

Mo McDevitt in conversation with Chris Dearden who specialises in landscape watercolour.
Show added:
11/09/2018

Collapse the Box: Andrew Whitson

Aoife Nic Con Midhe invites artist and award winning book illustrator Andrew Whitson to discuss life, inspiration and future plans.
Show added:
04/09/2018

Collapse the Box: Brian Wallace

Mo McDevitt talks to the artist, Brian Wallace at about his first solo exhibition which is heavily influenced by his time as a police officer during The Troubles.
Show added:
16/07/2018

Collapse the Box: Anna Wexler

Anna Wexler is an American interdisciplinary artist whose work often explores creative resistance to global capitalism and encourages discourse across gender, ethnic and class perspectives.
Show added:
27/06/2018

Collapse The Box: Milan Kohout

Czech-American performance artist, Milan Kohout, in conversation with Connor McKernan, about his work, which criticises the politics of oil, racism and social prejudice.
Show added:
18/06/2018
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