The 5 Best Art Schools in Belfast to Help Unleash Your Creative Spark
I once bought a pricey set of watercolours, painted one muddy blob that looked like a bruised potato, and hid the pad in a wardrobe for two years. Trying to teach yourself a creative skill at the kitchen table usually ends with wasted supplies and a bruised ego.
If you want to actually finish a piece or find a class that keeps the kids off their screens, you need proper guidance. We gathered the best art schools in Belfast to give your mind the right place to unleash your creativity.
Check these out, and who knows, it could be your mural we see in street art spots around town!
How much do art schools cost in Belfast?
The cost of enrolling in an art school in Belfast usually ranges from £20 for a drop-in session to £300 for a full adult term, whilst university degrees are priced in the thousands per year.
| Class Type | Typical Price |
| Untutored Life Drawing Blocks (3-hour session) | £20 per session |
| Children’s After-School Art Terms (monthly subscription) | £45 to £60 per month |
| Children’s After-School Art Terms (6 to 10 weeks) | £145 per term |
| Weekly Adult Studio Courses (12-week term, 3-hour sessions) | £300 per term |
| Further Education Foundation Diplomas (under 19s meeting criteria) | Free (otherwise sub-£1,000) |
| Higher Education Tuition Fees (Home/Northern Ireland Students) | £4,985 per year |
| Higher Education Tuition Fees (GB Students) | £9,790 per year |
| Higher Education Tuition Fees (International Students) | £17,490 to £24,600 per year |
1. The Yarn and Craft Emporium
Website: https://www.theyarnandcraftemporium.co.uk/
Address: 649 Shore Road, Whiteabbey Village
Contact: 073 4681 7430
Hours: Tuesday to Thursday: 10 AM to 4 PM, Friday: 12:30 PM to 7 PM, Saturday: 10 AM to 4 PM
The Yarn and Craft Emporium in Whiteabbey Village makes life much easier by putting classes, craft parties, and materials under one roof. This setup works well if you’re booking a party, or if you’re a beginner who wants a relaxed place to learn.
You can book beginner or children’s crochet, knitting, Tunisian crochet, or sewing machine lessons. Students can grab embroidery or cross-stitch kits, yarn, and threads to continue practising at home.
To make it convenient, Friday hours run until nighttime, so adults can squeeze in a visit after work. However, the classes stick to textile crafts and needlework rather than easel painting or sculpture.
Sam was a patient teacher and went at the pace of each of us
I attended the beginners crochet class. Sam was a patient teacher and went at the pace of each of us. The banter was an added bonus that made the two hours each week fly by!
- Gillian McCann | Google Review
2. The Art and Design Factory (Annadale Art Studio)
Website: https://theartanddesignfactory.com/
Address: Annadale Art Studio, 27D Annadale Ave, Green Lane
Contact: 078 8441 0804
Hours: Book a class on the booking page
At The Art and Design Factory, you receive guidance from award-winning artist and qualified teacher Sinéad McDermott. She brings 26 years of experience to help children, teenagers, and adults learn to draw and paint without the pressure.
Having taught everyone from nursery pupils to undergraduate students, she knows how to guide teens prepping portfolios as well as nervous adult hobbyists.
You should know that she’s a practitioner in NLP (neuro-linguistic programming), mindset, and mindfulness. As a result, she can pair formal art techniques with exercises that build confidence, resilience, and mutual respect.
To top it off, McDermott conveniently runs in-studio and online sessions, and travels to schools and community venues for bespoke workshops.
The catch is that a one-person setup limits how many classes she can run at once, and local Belfast slots have to compete with her national and international bookings.
Sinead puts a lot of preparation into her children’s art classes
My 2 kids just loved Sinead’s online art classes. They are age 9 and 12 and during lockdown I was blown away by what they produced, given they have never shown any interest or talent in art. Sinead puts a lot of preparation into her children’s art classes, so it is all easy to follow, and she gives a structure to art that enables the children achieve great outcomes. You can tell she truly loves working with kids, she is full of energy, praise and instills confidence.
- Roisin McDermott | Google Review
The classes are fun, entertaining, and educational
My 6-year old son has been taking online art classes with Sinead for the past few months and he has loved every minute of it. The classes are fun, entertaining, and educational, and I have been thrilled at how improved my son’s art work has become since starting the classes. Sinead is not only a fantastic teacher, but her warm, fun and bubbly personality makes the entire experience so enjoyable for her students.
- James McArdle | Google Review
3. Crescent Arts Centre
Website: https://crescentarts.org/
Address: 2-4 University Road, Belfast, Co. Antrim
Contact: 028 9024 2338
Hours: Monday to Thursday: 9:30 AM to 9:30 PM, Friday and Saturday: 9:30 AM to 5 PM
Operating as a welcoming centre on University Road, Crescent Arts Centre packs fine art, crafts, dance, and writing into one timetable. Hobbyists and aspiring students can pick pottery, photography, watercolour painting, drawing, and sculpture.
You’re never stuck in a single medium if your interests shift, as the centre also offers yoga and poetry. For adults and young people, the place runs dance, qigong, and creative writing courses.
Their late Monday to Thursday hours mean you can easily fit a studio session in after work or uni lectures.
However, their discount rules are rigid, as concessions can’t be combined and only apply to full-time students, under-16s, or people on Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
It offers a wide range of courses and workshops taught by engaging instructors
The Crescent is an Arts and Culture Centre located in south Belfast. It offers a wide range of courses and workshops taught by engaging instructors: languages, dance, guitar, ukulele, creative writing… But its Victorian walls also host projects, events, exhibitions, and even its own festival: The Belfast Book Festival, which warmly welcomes authors and artists from all over the world every June.
- Judit Sadurní | Google Review
I would happily book another course again
I went to a creative writing course on Sat 21st October. I found it very enjoyable and motivating. The centre has a lot going on as I walked past music rooms/ dance rooms/ art rooms etc and all were full of people taking part. I would happily book another course again
- Dee Russell | Google Review
4. Dawn Crothers Artist Studio
Website: https://dawncrothers.com/
Address: 23 Glenmillan Park
Contact: 07713 434472
Hours: By appointment
Inside Dawn Crothers Artist Studio, Northern Irish artist Dawn Crothers draws on nearly two decades of oil painting experience to teach expressive classes full of colour and character.
Famous for her whimsical snail paintings and bright coastal scenes, Dawn brings that same fun energy to adult, family, and children’s classes. She’s also available for Halloween camps, school visits, and corporate events.
We appreciate that she runs Zoom classes alongside her in-person workshops. Her studio is a lovely fit for parents hunting for school holiday activities or teams booking a creative work outing.
But bookings run by appointment only, so you have to schedule ahead, or you won’t be entertained.
Highly recommend if your young ones r into art
My wee girl goes here once a month for art class and absolutely loves it. Dawn is such a nice person that takes time with every child to work with them nothing is a hassle. Highly recommend if your young ones r into art. Also dawn’s paintings r unreal wld love to purchase one 😉
- Pigzy XXX | Google Review
Highly recommended
My son Lewis attended 2 weeks of summer camp here
He had an amazing time and learned a lot about art
Dawn and her 2 assistants where amazing
Thanks so much
Lewis can’t wait for Halloween camp
😀
Highly recommended …
- Angela Mcilmail | Google Review
5. Can Do Academy
Website: https://www.candoacademy.co.uk/
Address: 19 King’s Brae
Contact: 07545 436382
Hours: Available 24/7
Can Do Academy swaps paintbrushes for coding, LEGO animation, and 3D computer animation for learners aged six and up. They welcome kids, teens, and adults across different ability levels.
In this studio, students get hands-on experience in claymation, paper cut-out animation, photo manipulation, and filmmaking without needing complex studio rigs.
Better yet, the team teaches using simple apps that students can download and keep using at home, so a birthday workshop or school project turns into a hobby they can practice.
Because they run mobile workshops and masterclasses, they bring the gear right to your group or school. On the downside, they don’t offer studio classes, so you have to check which event is close to your location.
The Lego animation workshops are a popular offer for us
I’ve programmed Can Do Co for our children’s creative programme at Flowerfield Arts Centre over a few seasons now, as did the previous Arts Officer. The Lego animation workshops are a popular offer for us, and a really great opportunity for young kids to experiment with digital creativity, which helps keep our children’s programme diverse. Always have excellent feedback from kids and parents, and Joel is a great tutor. All equipment supplied, and Joel is a delight to work with – with good communication throughout booking and self sufficient on the day.
- Peniel Alemayehu | Google Review
I would highly recommend this company
We had a great experience booking Can Do Academy for a Lego Animation workshop. The workshop was well organised and well delivered and all the participants loved their final product. I would highly recommend this company.
- Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre | Google Review