But before the projects get up and running the participants will be taking part in 'chemistry meetings' to enable them to find the right partner.

The art and architecture initiative, known as Two Minds, is the brainchild of Arts & Business and the Royal Society of Ulster Architects.

It aims to build on growing interest and activity in the field of collaborative practice between artists and architects.

Two Minds is being launched on Friday at The Place in Belfast.

The 'chemistry meetings' will allow the 10 architecture practices and the artists to grill each other on working practices, values and inspirations.

The organisers said the discussions will inform the pairing decisions.

From there the new partners will work together for six months on collaborative projects.

Ten artists from Ireland, north and south, and abroad have agreed to participate in Two Minds.

The ten architecture firms taking part include Belfast-based practices Robinson McIlwaine, Robinson Patterson, Todd, Kennedy Fitzgerald, Chaplin Hall Black Douglas and Mackel & Doherty.

Joining them are Hegarty and Caroline Dixon from Londonderry, Coleraine-based Michael Rogers & Co and Keys & Monaghan from Fermanagh.

"All the practices involved have experience in arts and culture projects but this will be the first time that any have had an artist in residence for six months," explained an A&B spokeswoman.

She pointed out that rather than just being brought into fill the blank walls or spaces of buildings by architects, artists are now being sought for their views on aesthetic, spatial and conceptual uses related to buildings.

The artists involved are: Dara McGrath, Dublin; Gerry Murphy, Co Down; Lucy Turner, Bangor; Tara Kennedy, Dublin; Louise Rice, Armagh; Brian Connolly, Antrim; Tony Stallard, Essex; Janet Preston, Belfast; Lulu Quinn, Wiltshire, and Adam Kalinowski, Poland.