Twenty Five Exhibition : Celebrating 25 Years of the ISLAND Arts Centre

Throughout 2026, the Island Arts Centre has embraced a silver theme across its entire programme, reflecting both this major milestone and the enduring shine of our local artistic community. It has been a fantastic year of celebrations, including silver-themed arts workshops, a sold-out Children’s Arts Festival, and highly successful exhibitions like “Silver Skies” and “Silver Generations”.

This anniversary programme culminates in a landmark exhibition entitled “Twenty Five”. It is a unique retrospective showcase bringing together selected works from the very artists who have helped shape the Centre’s story over the past quarter-century.

A Personal Journey at the Island Arts Centre

Having previously held two distinct solo exhibitions in the galleries at the ISLAND Arts Centre, being invited back to join this retrospective collection is a massive honour. My history with this space holds incredibly fond memories, starting with the “Through the Mill”  series, an extensive documentary project capturing the poignant architectural decay of our local industrial heritage. It was a memorable opening night, made incredibly special by the brilliant Peter J McAuley, who performed live for everyone in attendance.

That was later followed by “The 20 Exhibition” back in 2012, a showcase that featured twenty limited-edition framed prints spotlighting reportage and documentary photography from across Northern Ireland.

Since first opening its doors, the ISLAND Arts Centre has hosted more than three hundred exhibitions. They have showcased visual arts in all forms—from pottery and patchwork to painting, photography, and mixed media. This upcoming collection offers audiences a truly reflective and celebratory look at the creative voices that define our region.

The Island Arts Centre “Twenty Five” Exhibition Photographs

I have two photographs featured in the exhibition. Both images showcase the beauty of the Mourne Mountains and are part of a strictly limited print run:

• Toward the Mournes: Captured in 2013 using the Fujifilm X-Pro1 paired with a pre-production 14mm lens.
• The View from Slieve Bearnagh: Captured from the summit in 2017.
  

Twenty Five Exhibition Preview

The public is warmly invited to attend the opening preview of “Twenty Five” to celebrate with the artists, view the collection, and look back on a quarter-century of local culture.

Preview Date: Saturday, 28th November 2026
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Venue: ISLAND Arts Centre, Lisburn
Exhibition Runs: 28th November – 22nd December 2026
Admission: Free

Links

Through the Mill Exhibition
The Twenty Exhibition
Fujifilm X Photographer
The Island Arts Centre