Category: News

As a charity, Void Art Centre relies on our wonderful team of volunteers to help keep everything running smoothly. We are always open to enquiries about our Front-of-House volunteer roles, however from January to April we also have opportunities for Volunteer Invigilators for the upcoming exhibition Barbara Steveni I Find Myself, opening Saturday, 17th January 2026 and running until 4th April 2026

Main responsibilities of a Volunteer Invigilator include:

• Monitoring artworks on display
• Greeting visitors and providing any necessary handouts
• Answering general questions about the exhibition
• Reporting any issues to staff
• Ensuring the safety and security of the gallery space
• Creating a positive and welcoming experience for all visitors

If you have a few hours a week (or more) to spare and would like to join the Void volunteer team, we would love to hear from you. Register your interest by emailing shakira@derryvoid.com.

Our opening hours are Tuesday–Saturday, 11am–5pm.

Read more about Barbara Steveni, I Find Myself show here.

Image: Barbara Steveni’s Home. Photography by Jean-Philippe Woodland. Courtesy Estate of Barbara Steveni.

The team at Void Art Centre are delighted to invite you to the preview of Barbara Steveni, I Find Myself, curated by Gareth Bell-Jones, opening on Saturday 17th January 2026, from 5.30 – 7.30pm. 

The life and work of Barbara Steveni (1928–2020), who described herself as an artist–activist, embodied an archive and pioneered a diffused art practice that resists clear definition. Invisible threads interlink the various roles she played in the contexts within which she was situated and responding to. As with other women artists of her generation she combined childrearing and managing domestic chores with the production of work, and was frequently overshadowed by her male partner’s success. The importance of Steveni’s role in the Artist Placement Group (APG) was often marginalised by gender-inflected terms such as ‘honorary secretary’, her practice is rarely recognised as having a value in its own right. The exhibition I Find Myself intends to redress this imbalance and encompass her life’s work, drawing together her practice and her experimentation with materials, media and strategies across a career spanning more than seventy years.

If you would like to volunteer as an Invigilator during this show please email hello@derryvoid.com, or click here for more information

Image: Acid Burn. Courtesy Estate of Barbara Steveni

🚙 Beep Beep! Car Sharing 

We’re keen to support car shares to our events if visiting from out of town or rural areas with limited public transport. If you’re planning on travelling from afar via car, and have space you wish to share with another person, let us know the general location from which you’re travelling, and the space you wish to make available in your vehicle at cecelia@derryvoid.com.

The team at Void Art Centre are delighted to invite you to the launch of Pollanroe Burn, an exhibition by artist Emily McFarland, opening on Saturday 27 September 2025, from 6-8pm. 

Pollanroe Burn or An Pollán Rua – the little red pool – unfolds through a series of new films and archival fragments, forming part of Emily’s ongoing long-term research into the shifting ecology of the Sperrin Mountains of West Tyrone, in the North of Ireland, in the shadow of proposed major industrial-scale gold extraction.

New film works, shot on 16mm and employing documentary forms, choreographed sequences, and sonic compositions, conjure speculative transformations that trace intersecting, submerged deep-time narratives: a watercourse within the Foyle Catchment, the remnants of an ancient Scots pine forest preserved in a former commercially harvested peat bog, and a singular cloudberry rhizome growing on a mountain in West Tyrone – the only recorded occurrence of the plant on the island of Ireland.

Attending to interconnected hydrological and vegetal worlds as agents of bioregional collective memory, folk knowledge, language and resistance, the works open space for slow looking, respectful listening and imagining relations to non-human life beyond the anthropocentric frame. In dialogue with the principles of Earth Jurisprudence – the legal philosophy recognising inherent rights of ecosystems on par with human rights – the project considers land and the watercourse not only as vulnerable to extraction and erasure, but also as sites of resilience, testimony, agency, refusal and rights. 

The Sperrin Mountains of West Tyrone have long been targeted by international gold mining interests and in the late 1990s, efforts to attract international mineral prospecting across the region culminated in the launch of the Tellus Project. Its stated aim was to enhance mineral exploration by collecting and disseminating regional geoscientific data, revealing significant gold mineralization across the northwest region of the North of Ireland, particularly in the Cavanacaw and Curraghinalt areas. By 2022, over a quarter of the land had been licensed under mining concessions.

Against this backdrop, the project asks: How can we cultivate modes of thinking that allow both intellect and empathy to apprehend the long-standing and delicate connections between humans and their environments? And is it possible to conceive of the river and other similar non-human entities as active, rights bearing presences?

With special thanks to Ulster Wildlife at An Creagán, the National Herbarium in Dublin and Save our Sperrins. This project is funded by Arts Council Northern Ireland, Foundation Foundation and Good Relations Grant.

🚙 Beep Beep! Car Sharing 

We’re keen to support car shares to our events if visiting from out of town or rural areas with limited public transport. If you’re planning on travelling from afar via car, and have space you wish to share with another person, let us know the general location from which you’re travelling, and the space you wish to make available in your vehicle at cecelia@derryvoid.com.

In July 2024 Void Art Centre hosted a very inspiring Mexican artist, Daniel Godinez Nivon. Daniel was our guest in Derry and conducted some field research as part of our collaborative project with ATLAS Arts, Skye, Scotland. His project will reach our galleries in 2026. We started this collaboration a while ago and shared some insights with our community in Derry when we hosted an artist talk during Daniel’s visit, inviting people to engage with his ongoing process. During his talk he invited us all to dream, to dream together and to reconnect with our surroundings and natural environment. 

So many people contacted us after that talk to share how touched they were by the artist’s words and how important it was for them to be present at that event. We also received a poem by Gillian Colhoun. Gillian wrote the poem and subsequently published it right after Daniel’s event. We thought it would be relevant to share it with all of you: as an invitation for you to record your thoughts in future, and as a thank you to Daniel and to all those who attended the artist talk. It’s great to have running impact from artistic collaborations, and we look forward to many more moments of inspiration from the collaboration as it develops over time in Derry and further afield. 

We hope you will enjoy it as much as we did!

Void Art Centre Team

As a celebration of queer Art, Foyle Pride are displaying the work of queer artists along the parade trail and its surroundings, with the support of many local host venues. These works will be displayed throughout the week of pride.

Void is proud to be hosting local artist Serena Kane’s artwork ‘The Honorary Flock’ as part of Queer Window Art Trail.

As well as admiring ‘The Honorary Flock’ in Void’s window, viewers are invited to add their own label, with a pigeon on one side and their own name, or the name of an artist they wish to honour, to the wall. For anyone who does not feel comfortable drawing, there is a small lino pigeon stamp and ink pad available to simply stamp a pigeon on your label. Labels and all art materials are available inside Void. [Image ‘The Honorary Flock’: 15 August 2025]

Serena Kane – Artist Statement

Title of Exhibition: “The Honorary Flock”

This piece is comprised of a series of tags, or labels, each with a variety of Pigeon depicted, using a range of traditional art methods. These methods include pencil drawing, charcoal, soft pastel, oil pastel, watercolour, gouache, acrylic painting, ink, and lino printing. On the back of each label is also the name of an artist. I have included my own name as well as the names of women and queer artists as far back as the 1500’s, thanks to the research in Katy Hessel’s Book, “The Story of Art Without Men.”

For displaying the labels, I intended it to be accessible and interactive, therefore each label is simply taped to the window. The arrangement is overlapping like feathers, spreading out from the centre, growing larger with each additional name.

We add labels or tags to things to add identity, for example the name of the gift’s recipient, or, to add a price to an item, showing its value. The labels represent the value and identity of those artist’s contributions not taught as standard in Art History, right up to today.

In its original exhibition, there were 57 labels and now, there are 172.

@sere.na.art

This August, we’re excited to announce that two members of Void Art Centre will be travelling to Indonesia, visiting Jatiwangi art Factory along with artist Joey O’Gorman, as part of the programme Bunrang. Bunrang combines two words as gaeilge, the intention for bottom level (bun), class/school (rang) which together mean beginner in Irish.

Throughout their time in Indonesia, the group will take in account both resonances and contrasts within our distinct socio-historical contexts and geographies, whilst exploring our common desire of rethinking organisational practice to align with sustainable means of production. 

While on residency with JaF, we will share experiences of aligning production alongside processes found in permaculture and regenerative farming, as well as exploring the idea of forming accidental businesses as a means of economic stability.

Established in 2005, Jatiwangi art Factory (JaF) is a community that embraces contemporary arts and cultural practices as part of the local life discourse in a rural area. Their manifold activities always involve the local public, including residency programs, discussion series, workshop, festival, and exhibitions.

This trip forms part of the British Council’s Connections Through Culture grant.

[photo courtesy of Jatiwangi art Factory]

Tuesday 19 August – 22 August 2025

Friday 22 August Live streaming (dependant on internet connection…..)

As part of our on-going residency out on Rathlin Island, artist Liliane Puthod and writer Ingrid Lyons search and scavenge for discarded car parts to create a storage unit for the interior of the Renault 4 guided by local artist and sailor Charlotte Bosanquet. On the island, disused cars are repurposed as containers and furniture, reinvented and repurposed for various uses after they break down. The Renault 4 makes its journey from Ballycastle, on the Spirit of Rathlin ferry to continue their adventure.   

Tour de Force is a national tour of Ireland by visual artist Liliane Puthod and writer Ingrid Lyons. At the wheel of Liliane Puthod’s late father’s Renault 4, tour de force is a celebration of culture and creativity in the format of a mapped adventure engaging with artists, musicians, mechanics, farmers, writers, archaeologists, craftspeople, academics, and aficionados over a series of pit stops all around Ireland… a summer 2025 ‘buddy movie’.

Follow their progress live on Twitch, Instagram and on their website.

This week at Void Art Centre we have had quite a busy time!

We were visited by Forerunner with whom we have collaborated in the past for the ‘Office of the Rest’. This was a collection of permanent works built especially for us by, Clare Breen, LifeFocus, Jane Fogarty, Blaine O’Donnell, Liliane Puthod, Peter Symes, and Tom Watt, commissioned by our former director Mary Cremin. If interested you can have a look whenever you are in next time!

We also hosted the Summer Club for our neighbours the North West Migration Forum. The activity was facilitated by our Belfast School of Art Practice Based Researcher-in-Residence, Dr Pamela Whitaker. This is another step in our developing relationship with the Forum and another activity engaging with Pamela’s residency around ‘Art as Gardening’.

A wood carving workshop and open discussion with Micronesian seafarers also took place in our spaces. What a magical event! Melissa Taitano, Larry Raigetal, James Beiuwelish, Willison Yarofaitir, Lextigwemale Haleyaluo and Tanner Gilliland-Swetland all shared their master carving skills and were here in Derry for the Brook Hall Canoe Project. Don’t miss the chance to see them on the River Foyle on Friday!

[ Photo courtesy of Brooke Park Estate and Gardens ]

Void Art Centre’s overarching mission is to present high quality contemporary art and a public programme of engaging activities. We commission work by national and international mid-career artists, acting with a collaborative spirit by creating new and lasting partnerships.

In 2024, Void Art Centre commenced a living practice of Social Permaculture, in which our organisational structure is based on models of co-existence and co-creation as well as sustainable use of local resources (both monetary and non-monetary) such as public grants, voluntary commitments, mutual aid, commercial arrangement, and private sponsorship. 

Void Art Centre’s ambition is to ensure our programmes and the organisation as a whole are sustainable and civic-engaged, entailing more attention and care towards the team, our resources and local environment. Responding to this ambition, Void Art Centre focuses on alternative ways of producing, distributing and presenting art projects. This includes responding to our locality, working within Derry and Northern Ireland to reflect the global changes we are all part of.  In addition, we work according to a seasonal rhythm, with our programme mirroring the four seasons and sowing, planting, maintaining, harvesting and sharing core processes within our values.

Like our internal working, our programming investigates ways of working together and collaborative and cooperative practices within the arts and with other sectors. We seek to form organic connections with the site of Derry and its audience. We have an asset-based approach to connecting with our locale, working with a methodology focused on the sustainable development of communities based on their strength and interests. To implement this, we follow the process of:

• Observation and mapping of resources, skills and expertise at our disposal. 
• Organising the community around specific issues such as climate change and sustainable approaches to agriculture and place-making. 

Within our programming, we adopt a different use of time. Our activities include both one-off, recurrent and long term projects, with some projects spanning only the length of the exhibition, and others resulting in further research and public reflections. Some components of our programme run throughout the year, developing into long term projects across a multi-year period. Process is a key aspect of our programme, as we ensure our organisational approaches and programming is aligned and that our programme is integrated into Derry life, with onsite and offsite activities focusing on genuine connection rather than outcome-oriented working. 

What Trustees do:

The role of the board is to take overall responsibility for the work and actions of Void Art Centre.  The five principles of governance set out by the Charities Commission  describe this responsibility in more detail:

• Understanding its function in delivering organisational purpose
• Working as an effective team
• Maintaining control, making effective decisions and managing risk
• Acting with integrity
• Being open and accountable

Trustees will be responsible for the strategic overview of all aspects of Void Art Centre operation and business. They have responsibility for ensuring charitable, legal and regulatory obligations are met and that the organisation is run as a financially sustainable and efficient entity. Trustees are advocates of and for Void Art Centre using their expertise to support and promote the charity’s work. Trustees will be focusing on establishing the business as a new charity, consolidating the legacy of the work of Void Art Centre to date and will play a significant role in shaping the future at this pivotal time in its history. 

We are looking for trustees with: 

• Commitment and passion for the work of Void Art Centre 
• Ability to take a strategic view 
• Excellent listening, analytical, and comprehension skills 
• Ability to understand the complex operating context of contemporary cultural organisations and their associated risks and opportunities 
• Awareness of the cultural landscape in Derry, nationally and internationally 
• Experience of income generation, individual giving 
• Ability to translate specific areas of specialism to the charity’s aims and objectives 
• Ability to utilise communication skills and networking contacts to the benefit of the charity
• Awareness of safeguarding practices and responsibilities. 

Key experience and attributes: 

It is important to Void Art Centre that our board membership reflects a wide range of experiences and provides Void with the knowledge to support good governance across a range of attributes. 

Our current board have skills, interests and experiences across the areas of local knowledge of Derry and Northern Ireland, visual arts in Northern Ireland, economic and social development, policy and organisational development in the arts, business management, archive and record management, education, community engagement, and disability and access. 

We are looking for someone who has emotional intelligence and the capacity to bring different perspectives together; who understands the principles of good governance and how to promote them; who is interested in working closely with the team and being an ambassador for our work on a national and international level. 

We’d love to hear from you if you have expertise in one of these areas:

• Financial/ Commercial
• HR and People Management
• Architecture
• Marketing
• Media

Trustees need to attend 4 board meetings per year. Papers will be circulated before each meeting to be read in advance and allow you to prepare for the meeting. Board meetings are held in situ but can be attended online if necessary. In addition to the board meetings, there will be an AGM and may also be some additional training/board development sessions. We want you to actively support and be interested in our work so there will also be events to attend e.g. exhibition openings, live programme, PR launches, fundraising events. 

The role is unremunerated and no expenses are offered for travel to Board meetings as required. This is standard as per charity law and we understand this will limit some people’s ability to apply. Board terms are 3 years and trustees can serve a maximum of 2 terms. 

How to apply 

Please send the following:

• A summary CV 
• A supporting statement outlining your interest in the role and relevant experience. 
• Formats: Written (up to 2 sides of A4) Video Audio Send to: hello@derryvoid.com
• For an informal discussion about the Trustee role please email viviana@derryvoid.com

Timeline 

• Deadline 27th June 2025
• Interviews 2nd & 3rd July 2025 
• Appointments 4th September 2025

THANK YOU

[ Photo, Shakira Nelis | Void Art Centre ]

Saturday 17th May 2025, 11.30am – 4.30pm

Meeting at Void Art Centre before walking to The Bloom Project

This ecosomatic walking workshop invites you into a day of embodied exploration, bridging urban and ecological spaces through hands-on engagement with clay, soil, wild seeds, and movement, as pathways to deeper ecological and physical awareness.

Led by Gail Mahon, the workshop interweaves art, science, and creative research, offering a sensory and problem solving experience that explores bone health, natural movement, and our connection to the more-than-human environment – echoing ancestral practices of walking, carrying, gathering, and sharing, where skin meets soil.

Book here, via Eventbrite

Please note that tickets are limited and booking is essential.
We ask for you to please book only if you can commit to joining.
For access requirements, email cecelia@derryvoid.com or call us on 028 7130 8080.

We’re excited to announce the new Chair of Void’s Board – Mary Scally

Mary has been an an active contributor to Void for many years, and we’re delighted to have such a fantastic addition to the organisation!

Born in rural Roscommon, Mary came to live in Derry in 1994, and since has held many roles including a Lecturer in Social Work and Community Development at Ulster University, and the North West Health Service Executive. Her journey to Derry included periods in London, Dublin, Kilkenny and Wales where she became immersed in community activities, co-founding Threshold, a national organisation supporting those in housing difficulty, and undertaking various roles in Community Development.

An advocate for Equality and Human Rights, as well as Rights of Nature, a fundamental concern for Mary is social inclusion – ‘weaving a vibrant tapestry where everyone’s unique thread contributes to a more vibrant and beautiful whole’. For Mary, the arts in their multiple forms have the potential to contribute to social inclusion and wellbeing.

We hope that you’ll join us in welcoming Mary to the team.

> Read the recent Derry Journal article in which Mary talks about her new role as Void Chair.

Sergi Selvas is a Catalan artist, curator, and educator based in Barcelona. After completing his MA in Art Praxis at the DAI (ArtEZ University of the Arts), he began a PhD at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC). He currently teaches Art and Design at the University of Barcelona and at the School of Art and Design of Catalonia (ESDAP-Llotja), and co-founded Mixité, an initiative exploring urban, artistic, and territorial practices through a creative and transdisciplinary lens.

During his visit to Void, supported by the Erasmus+ Exchange Programme and in collaboration with Ulster University, we will create a space for dialogue and exchange, sharing experiences and exploring methodologies focused on participation, social design, and regenerative processes.  The rich cultural, political, and community-driven context of Northern Ireland, and Void’s strong commitment to socially engaged and critical art practices, offer a particularly inspiring framework to rethink collective practices, community engagement, and sustainable approaches to art and governance.

Through conversations and shared reflections, the visit seeks to imagine new perspectives for these practices and approaches.

If you have time and the opportunity to reach Belfast on the 7th of May Sergi will be the protagonist of a lecture and roundtable discussion at the Belfast School of Art.

Reserve a place (Eventbrite)

Sergi will be visiting Belfast on the 6th and 7th of May and Derry on the 8th and 9th of May, if you are interested in his practice please get in touch: we could arrange a meeting.