The new MAC building in St Anne's Square in Belfast opens its doors to the public. The art and theatre space is free entry and has a number of exhibitions and theatres
The new MAC building in St Anne's Square in Belfast opens its doors to the public. The art and theatre space is free entry and has a number of exhibitions and theatres
The new MAC building in St Anne's Square in Belfast opens its doors to the public. The art and theatre space is free entry and has a number of exhibitions and theatres
Eamonn McGee with his daughter Clodagh aged 4 in the MAC
Bernard and Fiona Lavery pictured in the MAC
The new MAC building in St Anne's Square in Belfast opens its doors to the public. The art and theatre space is free entry and has a number of exhibitions and theatres
The new MAC building in St Anne's Square in Belfast opens its doors to the public. The art and theatre space is free entry and has a number of exhibitions and theatres
The new MAC building in St Anne's Square in Belfast opens its doors to the public. The art and theatre space is free entry and has a number of exhibitions and theatres
The new MAC building in St Anne's Square in Belfast opens its doors to the public. The art and theatre space is free entry and has a number of exhibitions and theatres
The new MAC building in St Anne's Square in Belfast opens its doors to the public. The art and theatre space is free entry and has a number of exhibitions and theatres
The new MAC building in St Anne's Square in Belfast opens its doors to the public. The art and theatre space is free entry and has a number of exhibitions and theatres
The new MAC building in St Anne's Square in Belfast opens its doors to the public. The art and theatre space is free entry and has a number of exhibitions and theatres
The new MAC building in St Anne's Square in Belfast opens its doors to the public. The art and theatre space is free entry and has a number of exhibitions and theatres
The new MAC building in St Anne's Square in Belfast opens its doors to the public. The art and theatre space is free entry and has a number of exhibitions and theatres
The new MAC building in St Anne's Square in Belfast opens its doors to the public. The art and theatre space is free entry and has a number of exhibitions and theatres
The new MAC building in St Anne's Square in Belfast opens its doors to the public. The art and theatre space is free entry and has a number of exhibitions and theatres
The new MAC building in St Anne's Square in Belfast opens its doors to the public. The art and theatre space is free entry and has a number of exhibitions and theatres
The new MAC building in St Anne's Square in Belfast opens its doors to the public. The art and theatre space is free entry and has a number of exhibitions and theatres
Zoe Starrett, Sam Porciello and Andrea Mullin at last night's official opening of the MAC
Brona Whittaker and Eibhlim de Barra at the official opening
Sam Porciello and Billy Partridge e at the official opening
The MAC houses three art galleries, two theatres, a dance studio, café/bar and many other facilities
Bob Collins, Michael Longley, Roisin McDonagh and Len O'Hagan at the official opening
Leoni McDonagh at the official opening of the MAC
Anne McReynolds Chief Executive of the MAC is pictured ahead of the final countdown
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - Thursday 19th April 2012 - Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.Press Release imageMAC-nificent Countdown for Belfasts Newest Arts VenueThe MAC, Belfasts newest £18 million pound arts venue opened with great excitement last night when abseilers scaled the building to undrape the front of the venue at the St. Annes Square site in the centre of the city. The building which houses three art galleries, two theatres, a dance studio, café/bar and many other facilities will be open to the public from 10am this morning.General views of the the official opening
The MAC houses three art galleries, two theatres, a dance studio, café/bar and many other facilities
Barbara Lowry and Nora Greer at the official opening
Cast from The Titanic: Rufus Wright, Ben Caplan and Jack Beale at the official opening
Comedians Grimes and McKee at the official opening
Left to right Hugh Mulholland, Eva Grossman and Sheelagh McClelland
The MAC houses three art galleries, two theatres, a dance studio, café/bar and many other facilities
Danny Kinahan and Joanne Dobson
Michael Longley, Neil Martin and Dan Gordon
The MAC houses three art galleries, two theatres, a dance studio, café/bar and many other facilities
Anne McReynolds Chief Executive of the MAC is pictured ahead of the final countdown with and Len O'Hagan, chairman of the MAC
Michael Longley, Culture Minister Caral Ni Chuilin, Anne McReynolds, Dan Gordon and Neil Gordon at the official opening
By Anna Maguire and Louise Small
– 23 April 2012
Artists, architects, couples and curious sightseers milled through the MAC’s doors yesterday, as Belfast’s new Metropolitan Arts Centre opened its doors to the public.
Ten years in the making, the MAC and newly opened Titanic Belfast building could generate up to £50m in extra revenue, attracting an additional 800,000 visitors to the city, according to current predictions.
Tucked away discreetly in the centre of Belfast’s cobbled Cathedral Quarter — and adjacent to St Anne’s Cathedral — the building looks deceptively small from the outside.
Visitors who walked through its doors yesterday said they were struck with the feeling of being outside as they stared up through the building’s sunlit central atrium.
A total of 400 copper strands cast in the colours of the rainbow cascade down the central staircase — intensifying the feeling of being outside.
Constructed from Belfast brick and basalt from Antrim, the MAC is rooted in the city.
It has also opened with a new exhibition of Belfast’s William Conor.
Belfast-born Conor — whose work hangs alongside paintings by the world-renowned LS Lowry — was commissioned by the Government during World War I to produce official records of soldiers and munitions workers.
In another gallery, celebrated Chicago-born artist Robert Therrien displays a series of his works, including his renowned Table and Four Chairs — an Alice and Wonderland-esque take on a household table and four chairs.
Meanwhile, in the Sunken Gallery, second-hand tables have been stacked haphazardly in an exhibit by Dublin-based artist, Maria McKinney.
The £18m six-floor building houses two theatres, three art galleries, a dance studio, cafe and bar.
At its gala opening this week, Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland predicted the MAC would be a “jewel” in the Cathedral Quarter.
He said: “The MAC is a hallmark example of a successful regeneration project.”
Roisin McDonough, chief executive of the Arts Council, said the breadth of work on display was exciting in itself.
“Conor, Lowry and Therrien will certainly be popular, but the real surprises will come when the visitors see the inspiring new work by our local artists.”
Anne McReynolds, MAC chief executive, said the facility is the product of a vast amount of work.
Hi °C | Lo °C 
