Belfast: Streets Ahead Artwork

Good examples of public art can add interest and bring focus to streets and give people a pride in their city. The Belfast Streets Ahead Project included two new art pieces to complement the new streetscape. Theyare unique and attractive and can be enjoyed by local people and visitor t o the city.

The key locations identified are:

The first piece of public art to be installed as part of the Department’s investment in transforming the city’s streetscape was unveiled by the Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie MLA, on the 24th September 2009 at Arthur Square.

The ‘Spirit of Belfast’ is a new iconic landmark for Belfast city centre. It was chosen by public vote and was created by New York artist Dan George.

The seven metre high sculpture is composed of four curved stainless steel structural elements includes lighting and is installed on a granite plinth base.

The New York artist Dan George said: "The ‘Spirit of Belfast’ is the manifestation of our energy as we look to the future as well as a meditation on our past. It is a timepiece that weaves together the strength of steel and the delicacy of light, ocean liners and linen, progress and peace”.

As part of the “Belfast; Streets Ahead” public realm improvement project, 8 feature lighting masts have been installed along the east side of Donegall Place. Each mast weighs approximately 3.5 tonnes and approximately 1 tonne is attributable to the copper. They are 16.2m in height and the foundation for each mast has approximately 17 tonnes of reinforced high strength structural concrete.

These feature lighting masts have been designed to create a significant impact on the street while taking in to account the historic setting. They have been influenced by Belfast’s industrial heritage, the linen industry and our maritime traditions.

While the masts have been inspired by Belfast in many ways, they have also been engineered and built in Northern Ireland using innovative modern techniques combined with traditional craftsmanship.

The position, shape, size and material have all been carefully thought through as part of the overall composition of Donegall Place and the visually important connection with City Hall. They are located to the east side of the street and help to provide a defined zone in which the necessary street ‘clutter’ can be arranged like seating, litter bins, signage etc...

The material cladding choice for these masts is directly influenced by the surrounding cityscape and in particular the copper cladding to the prominent dome of the City Hall that perhaps 'dominates the skyline south down Donegall Place.

When first installed the masts were a shinny copper. However, during the initial weeks of exposure,  radical colour changes took place with iridescent pinks, oranges and reds interspersed with brassy yellows, blues, greens and purples. As a result, they will became a dull copper colour after the first few weeks.

The long-term atmospheric exposure will generally result in the formation of a naturally protective gray-green patina, which is seen on some of Belfast’s fine civic buildings such as the dome of Belfast City Hall.

The Masts offerred a base for the further integration of artwork in to the public environment. As a result, ach mast has been branded with the name of a significant ship that was built in Belfast, thus linking to City’s maritime heritage and providing a tourist attraction for visitors to the city centre.

Each mast has been dressed with  a banner, which celebrates Northern Ireland’s industrial maritime heritage and commemorates one of the great White Star Line ships build in Belfast by Harland and Wolff.

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has provided a financial contribution the maritime banners.

Names of the vessels are as follows in order from start of Donegal Place from City Hall;

With their maritime branding and banners the masts will be a wonderful tourist attraction for Belfast city centre and will undoubtedly be the “icing on the cake” providing a marvellous climax to Phase 1 of the Belfast Streets Ahead project.

Along with the other enhancements to Donegall Place, the masts have reinvigorated the environment, engage the community, lend existing buildings a new lease of life and will reap rewards for the local economy through tourism.