Young people from across Northern Ireland gathered in the Stormont Long Gallery this week to mark 15 years of the Arts Care Twilight Zone Project, showcasing their creativity in one of the region’s most symbolic public spaces.
Eight young artists aged 12 to 18 presented their work to politicians, health partners and stakeholders, celebrating both their own creative achievements and the long-standing partnership between Arts Care and the Public Health Agency. The exhibition forms part of the Twilight Zone Festival, which has engaged 38 young people living in health and social care settings, with artwork previously shown at Ulster University in December.
Creativity, Confidence and Wellbeing
The Twilight Zone Project supports young people in residential care to explore their experiences through visual art, filmmaking, music, photography and digital media. At its core, the programme creates space for expression, confidence and connection, using creativity as a tool to support emotional wellbeing and mental health.
This year’s festival theme, Flip the Script, invited participants to challenge expectations and reclaim their own narratives. The Stormont showcase offered a moment to reflect on the project’s impact over the past 15 years, while also looking ahead to the future of youth-led creative health work in Northern Ireland.
Recognising Youth Voices in Public Spaces
Arts Care Chief Executive Barry Macaulay described the exhibition as a powerful reminder of what happens when young people are trusted to tell their stories in their own way. Public Health Agency Chief Executive Aidan Dawson highlighted the programme’s role in supporting confidence, wellbeing and long-term health outcomes for young people within the care system.
Delivered by Arts Care in partnership with the Public Health Agency and supported by John Blair MLA, the event placed young people’s voices, creativity and lived experience firmly at the centre of conversations about care, participation and wellbeing in Northern Ireland.
Part of our coverage of culture, wellbeing and community projects across Northern Ireland.
