Culture - Ards and North Down

Culture - Ards and North Down Ards Arts Centre and North Down Museum - Bringing Arts and Heritage to life in Ards and North Down.
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Keep up to date with news, activities and events provided by Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Arts and Heritage Service. Learn more about the work we do in maintaining our local culture and encouraging others to engage with it. We’re passionate about getting the local community involved with our shared cultural legacy, which continues to grow through the talents of new creative professionals.

To inspire ownership of this, we subsequently manage two fantastic venues, where everyone from young children and teens, to adults and senior citizens can experience our cultural offerings in many different ways. Our cultural venues include:

- Ards Arts Centre
- North Down Museum

To encourage community engagement with our local culture, we provide a wide range of services at both locations, including:

-Arts and heritage events and exhibitions
- Opportunities for cultural learning
- Funding opportunities for individuals and groups
- Outreach activity
- Professional development for artists resident in the borough
- Information and publications on the cultural heritage of our borough

www.andculture.org.uk

The Arts and Heritage Service of Ards and North Down Borough Council

www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk



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If you are out and about in Bangor this weekend, then make sure to visit ForM Sculpture Exhibition which is currently op...
13/06/2026

If you are out and about in Bangor this weekend, then make sure to visit ForM Sculpture Exhibition which is currently open at Bangor Castle Walled Garden! 🌼

Featuring over 40 sculptures from artists across the North and South of Ireland, this exhibition is a great opportunity to experience art outside of a traditional gallery setting.

🕙 Garden weekend opening hours: 10am - 6pm

Admission is free!

For more information: https://andculture.org.uk/whats-on/form-sculpture-exhibition-2026

📸 Shauna McCann Ceramics

Enjoy this closer look at sculptures by 3 of the artists exhibiting at ForM Sculpture Exhibition; Emma Jane Rushworth, M...
12/06/2026

Enjoy this closer look at sculptures by 3 of the artists exhibiting at ForM Sculpture Exhibition; Emma Jane Rushworth, Martin Williamson, and Sandra Kerr Gordon.

ForM Sculpture Exhibition is currently showing in the beautiful setting of Bangor Castle Walled Garden. 🌼

📍 Bangor Castle Walled Garden
📅 1 - 30 June
🕙 Mon - Thurs: 10am - 8pm, Fri - Sun: 10am - 6pm

ℹ For more info visit: https://andculture.org.uk/whats-on/form-sculpture-exhibition-2026

📸 Joe Fox

North Down Museum’s Education Officer, Ruth, recently visited Portavogie Primary School and Nursery Unit to deliver our ...
12/06/2026

North Down Museum’s Education Officer, Ruth, recently visited Portavogie Primary School and Nursery Unit to deliver our Terrific Toys workshop. 🧸

The P1 children explored and played with toys from the past, discovering how children used to have fun in years gone by. We are delighted that everyone enjoyed the session!

Expressions of interest are being invited from Artists and Makers living and working in Ards and North Down to be consid...
12/06/2026

Expressions of interest are being invited from Artists and Makers living and working in Ards and North Down to be considered for North Down Museum's Made in AND Pop-Up Christmas Shop. ✨🎁

North Down Museum would once again like to support local makers and crafters by providing an alternative opportunity to showcase their work for sale throughout the galleries in the museum, offering a unique local shopping experience for our visitors in the lead up to Christmas.

📅 North Down Museum Pop-Up Christmas Shop Dates:
Thursday 19 November 2026 - Sunday 3 January 2027

If you are an artist or maker who would like to get involved, fill in the online application form here 👇

https://engage.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/corporate-communications/copy-of-north-down-museum-christmas-shop-2026-appl-1/

Deadline for receipt of applications is: Friday 17 July 2026.

Join us for Out of the Box - a fast-paced circus comedy filled with clever tricks, visual humour and plenty of laughs! 🎉...
11/06/2026

Join us for Out of the Box - a fast-paced circus comedy filled with clever tricks, visual humour and plenty of laughs! 🎉

Fresh from five-star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe and winner of Best Family Show at Brighton Fringe, Darryl J Carrington transforms everyday objects into imaginative, funny moments that keep children – and adults – fully engaged from start to finish.

Perfect for ages 3+ and just one hour long, it’s the perfect choice for a summer outing.

Audience Reviews:
“𝑨 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘 – 𝒓𝒖𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒊𝒕”
“𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒖𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒌𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆… 𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒖𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈”

📍 Space Theatre SERC, Bangor
⏰ Wed 8 July – 3pm and 6pm
🎟️ £12 adult | £9 child

Book 👉 https://andculture.org.uk/whats-on/out-box

ForM Sculpture Exhibition is currently showing in the beautiful setting of Bangor Castle Walled Garden. 🌼Today we are sh...
10/06/2026

ForM Sculpture Exhibition is currently showing in the beautiful setting of Bangor Castle Walled Garden. 🌼

Today we are sharing a closer look at sculptures by 3 of the artists exhibiting; Grant Mac Ewan, Geraldine Owens, and Rachel Geary.

📍 Bangor Castle Walled Garden
📅 1 - 30 June
🕙 Mon - Thurs: 10am - 8pm, Fri - Sun: 10am - 6pm

ℹ For more info visit: https://andculture.org.uk/whats-on/form-sculpture-exhibition-2026

Grant Designs

📸 Joe Fox

Shake, Rattle and Sparkle! 🎶Join Sparkle and Star for a joyful morning of music, movement and imagination at North Down ...
10/06/2026

Shake, Rattle and Sparkle! 🎶
Join Sparkle and Star for a joyful morning of music, movement and imagination at North Down Museum! ✨

Taking place on Thursday 20 August, these lively session invites little ones and their grown-ups to explore new and unusual sounds together, inspired by International Strange Music Day.

With live instruments, storytelling, singing and plenty of dancing, it’s a fun and energetic experience designed to spark curiosity and nurture a love of music.

Suitable for ages 5 and under.

📍North Down Museum
📅 Thurs 20 August
⏰10am, 11.30am or 2pm
🎟️ £6.50 per child

Book at: https://andculture.org.uk/whats-on/shake-rattle-and-sparkle

09/06/2026

Form Sculpture Exhibition is currently showing at Bangor Castle Walled Garden! 🌸

Featuring over 40 sculptures in the beautiful setting of Bangor Castle Walled Garden, this exhibition allows visitors to experience artworks outside of the traditional gallery setting.

Some works are impressively large scale, whereas others can be sought out amongst the foliage, making it a fun experience for the whole family to enjoy! Be sure to pick up a ForM Map from the entrance so you don’t miss any of the works!

Enjoy this closer look at just a small selection of the works on show.

Garden Opening Hours:
Fri - Sun: 10am - 6pm
Mon - Thurs: 10am - 8pm

💬 And if you do visit, please scan the QR code for the visitor survey on the back of the map to tell us your thoughts!

For more info visit the link in bio.


Calling all Little Historians! ✨This summer, children aged 7–12 can step into Castle Park and uncover how this beautiful...
09/06/2026

Calling all Little Historians! ✨
This summer, children aged 7–12 can step into Castle Park and uncover how this beautiful space has changed over thousands of years.

In North Down Museum's three-day Little Historians workshop, participants will explore the park’s hidden history, from early peoples who relied on the landscape for survival, to how it is used and cared for today.

Through a mix of outdoor discovery and creative indoor activities, children will learn how Castle Park is a place shaped by stories, history and change.

📍 Castle Park, Bangor
📅 Wed 29 – Fri 31 July
⏰ All day
💷 £30 per child (covers all 3 days)

Places are limited - early booking recommended.

Book here 👉https://andculture.org.uk/whats-on/little-historians-summer-workshop-one-park-many-stories

Do you want to take better photos? 📸Then don't miss the Introduction to Photography workshop, with professional photogra...
09/06/2026

Do you want to take better photos? 📸

Then don't miss the Introduction to Photography workshop, with professional photographer Carrie Davenport! This workshop is perfect for beginners or those who would like to learn how to get the most out of their camera.

Participants will learn creative composition, framing techniques, and exposure, allowing you to take really great photos, no matter the subject or location.

All abilities and camera types welcome including DSLR, digital compact, and smartphones.

📍 Ards Arts Centre
📅 Sat 4 July
🕙 10.30am - 3.30pm
🎟 £45

ℹ For more info and to book: https://andculture.org.uk/classes/introduction-photography-workshop

Address

Town Hall, Conway Square
Newtownards
BT234NP

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