Belfast Platform for the Arts

Public benefits

“Assisting emerging artists in necessitous circumstances to become self-supporting by the provision of studio space and facilities, advice and training;” The benefits that flow from this purpose include the opportunity for artists to create artwork and develop their professional art practice. These benefits will be demonstrated through monitoring

of artist career progression. There is no harm arising from this purpose. The charity’s beneficiaries are artists at an early stage of their career. The only private benefit flowing from this purpose is that a Trustee can avail of studio space but this is necessary as studio members must be represented as Trustees and is incidental as Trustees apply for and are assigned studio space in the same way as all other beneficiaries. “Managing an arena for public art exhibitions, demonstrations and lectures and use it as a centre for other arts related activities;” The benefits that flow from this purpose include increased public awareness of contemporary art and increased opportunities for emerging artists to develop their professional artistic practice. These benefits will be demonstrated by keeping record of all exhibitions, events and activities and by monitoring audience numbers. Feedback will be collected from exhibiting artists. There is no harm arising from this purpose. The charity’s beneficiaries are members of the general public who attend our free exhibitions and events. Artists also benefit from the opportunity to show their work in a public arena. The only private benefit flowing from this purpose is that a Trustee can exhibit their own artwork as part of the public programme but this is incidental as Trustees are subjected to the same application and selection process as all other beneficiaries. “Encouraging appreciation for and participation in community-based arts activities designed to enable members of the general public to explore their creativity.” The benefit that flows from this purpose is increased opportunity for members of the public to engage with art and be exposed to different forms of creativity. These benefits will be evidenced by feedback from participants. There is no harm arising from this purpose. There is no private benefit arising from this purpose.

What your organisation does

Platform is an artist-led studio group and contemporary art gallery based in Belfast’s city centre. Our role is to actively promote creative expression, presentation and access to contemporary art practice through our Exhibition, Outreach and Studio Programmes.