Inclusive Creativity Concert and Symposium at RENDR Festival

Future Screens NI, Ulster University, Studio Ulster and CoSTAR in association with the RENDR Festival are excited to present a concert and symposium in Studio Ulster focused on the interface of inclusive arts practice and technology, featuring musicians from Acoustronic, Elefantora and the Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble and a range of international speakers and artists

The concert will feature the first performance of a new version of 'Zoom Time', with music by Frank Lyons and visuals by Paul Moore, for an ensemble comprising musicians from Hard Rain, Acoustronic and Elefantora ensembles and an orchestral soundtrack. The concert will also celebrate the 90th birthday year of composer Steve Reich, featuring pieces such as 'Vermont Counterpoint', 'Clapping Music' and 'Reich Remix'. The program will also include sonic and visual improvisations performed on acoustic and digital instruments and feature the cutting-edge virtual production technologies offered in Studio Ulster.

The international symposium, to be launched by Oscar-winning actor, Dr James Martin OBE, will include invited presentations and performances which consider the engagement of creative arts practitioners with new technologies. Speakers will include Prof Lizbeth Goodman from SmartLab, Sophia Alexandersson from Share Music Sweden and Prof Andrew Kotting, a prize-winning artist and film maker.

Future Foundation Mentor & Mentee Training Day

On Tuesday 28th October, Future Foundation held its annual Mentor–Mentee Training Day in the South Dining Hall at Queen’s University Belfast. The day brought together mentors and mentees from across the creative industries for a morning of professional development with AAB Consultancy, a networking lunch with Lena by Inspire Wellbeing, followed by an afternoon of mentee training. The event was a great success, filled with insightful discussions, inspiring stories, and new connections that marked the beginning of the Future Foundation 2.0 mentoring journey.

I'm from the road

Last week the Future Screens NI team were kindly invited to the first official screening of 'I'm from the road' a short film produced by Vincent Kinnaird.

I'm From The Road...

A 30 minute documentary about young people from the SURF group at The Marion Centre as they embark on a creative journey with Shankill poet, Scott McKendry.

A Notasuch Films production, supported by Future Screens NI in partnership with the Marion Centre of Excellence, Ulster University and Studio Ulster/CoSTAR Network Screen Lab.

Director - Vincent Kinnaird
Producer - Jolene Mairs Dyer Ulster University, Screen Production
Presenter - Scott McKendry ,Poet, Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen's University Belfast
Community involvement Partner, Marion Centre of Excellence - Joanne Dunn

The team would like to congratulate Vincent and the rest of the team for their brilliant film. We wish you all the success in the future.

Back to the Future!

Future Screens NI- Back to the Future💫

On the 27th August we welcomed the organisations who were apart of the Art Work programme to The Titanic Hotel Belfast to celebrate their achievements throughout the 3 year scheme.

Delivered by Future Screens NI and funded by The Departement for Communities the £4.7 million scheme funded over 70 jobs across the creative sector in Northern Ireland.

Contributions from our keynote speaker Iain Greenaway, Director of Culture at DFC. Bespoke Communications , Sarah Ellis from The Riyal Shakespeare Company , FSNI Director Professor Paul Moore and Professor Frank Lyons shaped the event into an opportunity to highlight the positive impact the funding has had on these organisations and the success they have achieved as a result.

As the event came to an end Professor Paul Moore reflected and said “The stories we heard are inspirational. They show how strategic investment can unlock creativity, build resilience and stimulate growth. The Art Work programme has delivered beyond expectations and provides a powerful case for future initiatives”.

Thank you to all the wonderful Art Work employers and employees for your attendance and your work throughout the 3 year programme.
We wish you all the success in the future.

The Memory Blocks - A film by Andrew Kotting

The Future Screens NI funded feature film The Memory Blocks by Andrew Kotting has just premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival. 

Much of the film was shot at the Silent Valley and was favourably reviewed by the Guardian newspaper, https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/aug/15/the-memory-blocks-review-playful-and-purposeful-exploration-of-developmental-disorders.

An installation based on the film will be exhibited in Belfast in November. 

The trailer for the film can be seen below: