04/01/2012 - 16/03/2012
Free public tours of Belfast City Hall are available:

Monday to Friday - 11am, 2pm and 3pm
Saturday - 2pm and 3pm.

There are no tours on Sundays, bank holidays or public holidays.

Led by an experienced guide, the tour lasts around one hour and will uncover the history of Belfast City Hall, while exploring some of its finest features.

Tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis (no booking needed) and leave from the reception area inside Belfast City Hall.

For more information, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/cityhall or call 028 9032 0202.

06/01/2012 - 04/03/2012
The biggest artists in the street art community are on display at the Ulster Museum in this touring exhibition from the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Over 30 artists are featured through bold and colourful prints and stickers, highlighting the diversity and talent that can be found in the street art community. Featured artists include Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Sickboy, Pure Evil and D*Face.

Admission to this exhibition is free.

13/01/2012 - 15/12/2012
A walking tour around the centre of Belfast, taking in the well known and not so well known sights that make this great city what it is today. Look at the old and the new, and spend a few hours learning more about photography.

Please note: this tour is about photography and taking better photos. They don`t do history, myths, legends or leprechauns!

Tickets cost £20 per person which includes coffee (must be booked in advance). For more information phone 028 9070 5525.

18/01/2012 - 21/03/2012
Exploring the themes of The Land, The Figure, Women, Still Life and Abstraction, and examining the work of individual artists, this series of illustrated lectures will trace the development of twentieth century Irish Art and its relationship with international art. Making reference to key artists and paintings in the collection of the Ulster Museum, it will examine how cultural, political and historical conditions such as education and travel, aesthetics, nationalism, gender and ideology have affected artistic creation in Ireland.

Cost for the 10 week course is £50.00

To book a place telephone 0289 0440 017 or email ulstermuseumreception@nmni.com

19/01/2012 - 18/05/2012
Our annual Belfast Parks Photographic Competition offers you the chance to win a share of £1,000.

All you have to do is take a photo in one of our parks, making sure it relates to one of the following categories:

• people in parks
• wildlife in our parks - for example, landscapes, animals, trees, plants and horticultural displays in a recognisable park setting
• buildings and arts - for example, park buildings and structures such as railings, gates, statues and sculptures.

The closing date for entries is Friday 18 May 2012.

For more information, visit our parks section

20/01/2012 - 21/12/2012
St George`s Market holds weekly markets on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Friday Variety Market (6am - 2pm)

This market dates back to 1604. There are 248 market stalls selling a variety of products including fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, antiques, books and clothes.

It is this assorted mix that attracts thousands of visitors each week. The fish section alone contains 23 fish stalls and holds the reputation for being the leading retail fish market on the island of Ireland.

Saturday City Food and Garden Market (9am - 3pm)

The Saturday Market has a fusion of tempting speciality foods from around the world as well as handmade crafts, flowers, plants and local artwork.

Customers can sample the products or relax with a coffee and a newspaper while listening to some of the best local musicians as they play live.

Sunday Food and Craft Market (10am - 4pm)

This market offers a mixture of food and craft products.

Live music from top local bands and solo artists also ensures that visitors are kept entertained.

Products on sale include local, continental and speciality foods as well as scented candles, clothes, handmade jewellery, recycled goods, household goods, antiques, wide variety of crafts and art and souvenirs.

More information

For more information about St George`s Market, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/stgeorgesmarket

30/01/2012 - 01/03/2012
Dance United Northern Ireland is a dance development company, based in Belfast and working across Ireland, the UK and internationally. The company`s work acts as an introduction to dance and the creative arts for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, with a particular focus on young people.

Phone 028 9033 0956 or visit www.Danceunitedni.com for more information on how you can get involved in this intergenerational community dance development workshop programme.

01/02/2012 - 29/02/2012
An exhibition of paintings in the Higgin Gallery at Malone House.

Open from 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Sunday. For more information on this exhibition, call 028 9068 1246.

01/02/2012 - 29/02/2012
Four different artists; four unique styles. Includes works by Ronnie Burton, Graham Catney, Lendrick Catney and Mary Hamill-Booth.

For more information, visit www.linenhall.com

01/02/2012 - 09/03/2012
Features a contemporary account of the Battle of the Boyne in the London Gazette 7 – 10 July 1690. This hitherto unknown material is the centerpiece of an exciting new look at Irish history and culture as we and our European neighbours experienced it.

For more information, visit www.linenhall.com

01/02/2012 - 09/03/2012
This fascinating piece of Irish history is presented through artistic interpretations.

Call 9032 1707 or visit www.linenhall.com

01/02/2012 - 25/04/2012
Music lovers and Belfast residents have a unique opportunity to sing at Thr Night of 1000 Voices at the Royal Albert Hall, in support of blood cancer charity Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

Anyone and everyone may join in and sing at this fantastic event. Full training will be given and weekly rehearsals start in February 2012 at Orangefield Primary School, Houston Gardens, Belfast. No audition or previous experience is needed. You will be trained by one of the professional vocal coaches in your area. If you are interested contact SingLive UK on 01609 780315 or visit www.singlive.com.

The Night of 1000 Voices will be held on 6 May 2012 and you can be a part of the huge 1000 Voices Massed Choir from all over the British Isles. You will be accompanied by The City of London Philharmonic and some very special musical theatre special stars from London and New York in a musical night to remember.

In 2012, The Night of 1000 Voices will celebrate the Best of British. Featured will be a selection of favourites with songs from Evita, The Lion King, Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Misérables and We Will Rock You and many more. Special guests are still to be announced but previous guests have included Michael Ball, Glenn Close, Michael Crawford, David Essex, James Galway, Joel Grey, Gloria Hunniford, Roger Moore, Elaine Paige, Tim Rice, Cliff Richard and Riverdance. For more information please look at www.thenightof1000voices.com.

01/02/2012 - 25/04/2012
Music lovers and Belfast residents have a unique opportunity to sing at The Night of 1000 Voices at the Royal Albert Hall, in support of blood cancer charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.

Anyone and everyone may join in and sing at this fantastic event. Full training will be given and weekly rehearsals start in February 2012 at Orangefield Primary School, Houston Gardens, Belfast. No audition or previous experience is neededas you will be trained by one of the professional vocal coaches in your area.

The Night of 1000 Voices will again be held on Spring Bank Holiday, 6 May 2012 and you can be a part of the huge 1000 Voices Massed Choir from all over the British Isles. You will be accompanied by The City of London Philharmonic and some very special musical theatre special stars from London and New York in a musical night to remember.

The closing date for applications is 1 December 2011 and the rehearsals take place in February 2012 for 12 weeks. For more information contact SingLive UK on 01609 780315 or visit www.singlive.com.

03/02/2012 - 25/02/2012
A socio-environmental photographic collection shot over many months on the banks of Strangford Lough. Delicately recorded by Royal Photographic Society member, Bernie Brown ARPS, this exhibition has been acclaimed both locally and in America for its eclectic mix of stunning landscape and people portraiture.

Please note that as the Waterfront exhibition space is in a working building, there may be times when Gallery 2 is closed to the public. If you are visiting Belfast Waterfront specifically to view the art work we would recommend that you call in advance to check opening hours, call 028 9033 4400.

For more information, visit www.berniebrown.biz

04/02/2012 - 11/03/2012
The Lyric Theatre is hosting the Northern Irish premiere of Brian Friel`s Uncle Vanya.

Double Olivier Award winner Conleth Hill leads a sensational Irish cast in this heart-breaking story of unrequited love. When Vanya`s brother-in-law returns to the country estate with his beautiful second wife, Elena, hidden passions break through and the lives of his entire family are thrown into turmoil.

For more information, call the Lyric Theatre Box Office on 028 9038 1081 or visit www.lyrictheatre.co.uk

06/02/2012 - 03/03/2012
This exhibition features a series of photographs that document the Harland and Wolff Headquarters and Drawing Offices that closed in 1989 and soon fell into disrepair.

The building is steeped in history. Not only did Harland and Wolff employ around 35,000 people at its peak but some of the world’s most famous ships were designed in the Drawing Office and built in the yard. The most famous of these is the RMS Titanic, and this exhibition is part of Titanic celebrations planned at the The Ulster Hall in 2012.

The building is soon to be renovated and it was important to document the building before it`s altered from its original purpose.

Please note that as the Ulster Hall exhibition space is in a working building, there may be times when the gallery is closed to the public.

If you are visiting the Ulster Hall specifically to view the art work, please call 028 9033 4400 in advance to check that the gallery is open.

For more information, contact carsonjan@belfastcity.gov.uk

Image courtesy of Christopher Heaney.

11/02/2012 - 21/04/2012
The award-winning Belfast Music Bus Tour leaves from the reception area of the Ulster Hall on Bedford Street at 2pm.

Take a journey through the heart of this rock and roll city. Enjoy tunes and tales from Them and Van Morrison, by way of awesome guitar players, traditional and folk, to punk rock and Hollywood soundtracks.

Discover Belfast`s diverse musical giants from Ruby Murray, to Gary Moore and Stiff Little Fingers.

The tour is available on the following dates:

• 11 and 25 February
• 10 and 24 March
• 7, 14 and 21 April

The tour, authored and organised by Oh Yeah, has been rated sixth in the Visit Britain Super Blog`s chart of the top ten music tourism destinations in the UK.

Tickets are available from the Belfast Welcome Centre, Donegall Place (beside Boots) by phoning 028 9024 6609 or online at www.gotobelfast.com

14/02/2012 - 25/02/2012
The No.1 Greatest Musical, Grease, is back at the Grand Opera House. Danny Bayne (winner of the ITV`s Grease Is The Word, Hairspray) returns as Danny with Carina Gillespie (Grease, Buddy) as Sandy and Ireland`s own singing sensation Mary Byrne bringing the X Factor as Teen Angel!

Dust off your leather jackets, pull on your bobby-socks and take a trip to a simpler time as `bad boy` Danny and the `girl next door` Sandy fall in love all over again. It`s the original High-School musical, featuring all the unforgettable songs from the hit movie including You`re The One That I Want, Grease Is The Word, Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted To You, Sandy and many more!

For more information and to book tickets, visit www.goh.co.uk

16/02/2012 - 24/03/2012
Drawing inspiration from the 1924 Russian propaganda film of the same name, Interplanetary Revolution calls for a change. This exhibition does not present solutions, but rather the strong feelings of discontent and civil unrest with the way things are, both socially and politically, imagining the complete downfall of capitalism and the creation of a vacuum waiting to be filled.

Tuesday - Friday 10.30am - 5.30pm
Saturday 10.30am - 4pm

20/02/2012 - 30/12/2012
Visitors will be able to visit the Assembly and Senate Chambers, Great Hall, working Committee rooms and the historic Library. Visitors will hear how the ornate central chandelier in the Great Hall once hung in the apartments in Windsor Castle and the mystery of the red dispatch boxes in the Senate Chamber whose keys have been lost forever.

Throughtout July and August new guided tours will take place on the hour every hour between 10 am and 3 pm on Monday to Friday.

From September, onwards, the tour will revert back to twice daily, 10am & 3pm.

21/02/2012 - 26/02/2012
Michael Flatley`s Lord Of The Dance is a magical adventure of sight and sound that transports its audience to a mythical time and place, lifting the spirits and capturing the hearts of all who experience it.

From the moment the lights go down, to the last encore, you will be spellbound by a masterfully orchestrated combination of precision dancing, state of the art lighting and pyrotechnics and a musical score that leaves no soul untouched.

For more information and tickets, visit www.waterfront.co.uk, phone 028 9033 4455 or visit the Waterfront box office.

21/02/2012 - 25/02/2012
Take a rollercoaster ride through the lives of Ms Monroe and some of the ladies who subscribed to her theory.

Marilyn `s breathtaking beauty and remarkable talent made her a superstar. But she was a complex and intense woman who ultimately succumbed to self-destruction - or did she?

For more information, please call the Lyric Theatre Box Office on 028 9038 1081 or visit www.lyrictheatre.co.uk

Please note, this production contains adult themes.

22/02/2012 - 26/02/2012
This festival celebrates the unique links between Belfast and Nashville and features the best songwriters from across the globe.

It features more than 100 songwriters in 35 concerts including Collin Raye, John Oates, Nick Lowe, Nanci Griffith, Todd Snider, Iain Archer, Clint Black, Bill Anderson and Bob Dipiero.

For more information about the 2012 festival, visit www.belfastnashville.com

22/02/2012 - 25/02/2012
Directed by Sheelagh O`Kane Youth Lyric presents Roald Dahl`s The BFG, following highly successful Waterfront productions of The Witches and The Twits.

The show is an innovative adaption of Dahl`s classic story about a little girl, Sophie and the BFG (Big Friendly Giant) who`s job it is to collect and deliver ppleasant dreams to children. She makes friends with the BFG but they must take on the might of the child-munching evil giants in a final dramatic showdown!

For more information, visit www.waterfront.co.uk

23/02/2012 - 26/02/2012
Belfast Music Society presents their 91st International Festival of Chamber Music.

The festival gives Belfast audiences an exclusive opportunity to experience world class artists in the enchanting setting of Queen`s University`s Great Hall, with its intimate atmosphere where every note and breath resonates.

For more information, visit www.belfastmusicsociety.org