Our Ekphrasis projects build on the long history of dialogue between writers and artists in Belfast, and reflect the interdisciplinary research interests at the Seamus Heaney Centre.

 

Every year we collaborate with the Ulster Museum and their curators on a series of seminars and live events, and publish a pamphlet of new poems written by our students in response to artworks from the Museum's collection. These poems remain connected to the artwork through inclusion in their permanent collection files. 

 

Besides the annual collaboration with the Ulster Museum, many of our staff and students are involved in the visual arts through art criticism, curatorial work, and individual art practices. 

In Spring 2026, we will visit a new exhibition at the Ulster Museum exploring the rebirth of a collection devastated by fire.  

On 11th November 1976, a devastating fire at Malone House in South Belfast, where the Ulster Museum's fashion collection was being stored at the time, led to the near-total loss of the original costume and textile collection. Fifty years on, this exhibition showcases fashion from the eighteenth century to today, from historic garments to contemporary pieces by Chanel and Versace. 

In March 2026, students will be invited to attend a curator-led tour to gain further insight into the collection.