Outburst Arts

Outburst Arts makes space to explore ideas and experiences that challenge us to think and talk about our queer pasts, present and futures in new ways. The work we support is adventurous, open hearted and big on brilliantly dangerous ideas, all the while aiming to make queer possibilities accessible and thrilling to wide audiences. Outburst Queer Arts Festival was brought to life in 2007 by a grassroots collective of lesbian, gay, bi and trans activists and artists. We wanted to produce an arts platform in Belfast that would take on issues of LGBTQ+ invisibility, homophobia and transphobia through exciting community arts events, while also supporting local queer artists to develop and showcase vital new work. Since then, Outburst has grown into an essential space for queer artists and bold new ideas and has produced some of the most exciting arts event in Belfast over the last decade. Outburst Arts became a limited company and registered charity in 2010 and since then has produced hundreds of original arts projects, touring events, cutting-edge commissions and development & learning programmes, at home and in 15 countries around the world. We’re passionately committed to making space for generous, challenging and curious queer creative voices that shake up the conversation. The heart of our mission hasn’t changed but our ambition has grown to support the development of more original work, along with promoting queer critical thinking and producing and showcasing more risk-taking new arts events. From green-housing work by emerging new talent to groundbreaking award winning works like Abomination, A DUP Opera with The Belfast Ensemble (best New Opera Production, Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards 2020) and Scorch (Stacey Gregg, Best New Play, Irish Theatre Awards 2015), Outburst supports compelling ideas and new work that puts creative curiosity, bold experimentation, collective learning and speaking truth at the heart of everything we bring to audiences.