A previously derelict building on Sandy Row has reopened with a new role at the heart of the community.
The Sandy Row Arts and Digital Hub has officially opened, transforming a derelict site into a space for creativity, learning and local connection. The £1.5 million project brings together community arts, digital training and shared facilities across three floors, designed to support people living and working in the area.
On the ground floor, a new studio will host Northern Ireland’s first community-based artist-in-residence, delivering arts projects and classes for schools, individuals and community groups in partnership with Flax Art Studios. Above it, a digital training suite will provide IT courses, exams and practical support for those needing help with online services.
Delivered by Belfast South Community Resources and funded by Belfast City Council and the Executive Office’s Urban Villages Initiative, the hub forms part of wider efforts to regenerate Sandy Row following several challenging years.
Rather than a headline-grabbing intervention, the project focuses on long-term presence and practical use. It offers space to learn, make and connect, while contributing to a gradual sense of renewal along one of south Belfast’s most familiar streets.
