Focusing on the creative arts, trans has, over the last 7 years, grown to offer a wide range of gigs, seminars and workshops during the summer months.

In considering the current economic climate, we have decided that this is a good time to take a break for a year, take stock of our achievements so far and to review the festival in consultation with our external partners, funders and other stakeholders, in order to best plan for the future.

We would like to thank all who have been involved in organising the festival, as well as those attending events and courses, for your support. We maintain our commitment to programming a diverse and inclusive arts and entertainment programme for Belfast.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural Winter BASE in the Ulster Hall, Trans Urban Arts hosts the event this February with another superb musical and artistic line-up.  Up and coming street artists from across Europe and the UK will be painting large-scale murals in a bespoke indoor cityscape, created especially for the festival, accompanied by music from international and local bands. 

Brooklyn’s finest SLEIGH BELLS will be headlining Saturday night with support from Gilles Peterson’s protégée Ghostpoet and noise-pop trio Girls Names.  Not to mention a cacophony of Ireland’s top local acts including Cashier No9, Toby Kaar, Bocs Social, Wonder Villains, The 1930s, Silhouette and David Turpin.

There will be live painting both days by artists from across Europe, the UK and Ireland:

Remed (Spain) – http://www.flickr.com/photos/remed_art/
Lints (Denmark) – www.lints.dk
Jack Douglas (Austrailia)
Conzo Throb (Scotland)
Howl (England) – www.flickr.com/pohtos/orfn
Roid (England) – http://graffart.eu/blog/2010/10/roid-art-pack/
Inkie (England – www.inkie.co.uk
45RPM (England) – www.flickr.com/photos/whatcollective/
KVLR (NI) – http://www.flickr.com/photos/kvlr
+ many more!

Entry during the day is free and £5 after 6pm on Saturday 20 February. Tickets can be bought in advance at the Ulster Hall Box Office – over the phone on 028 90 334455 or by visiting the http://www.ulsterhall.co.uk/.

Brooklyn’s finest SLEIGH BELLS will be headlining Saturday night with support from Gilles Peterson’s protégée Ghostpoet and noise-pop trio Girls Names.  Not to mention a cacophony of Ireland’s top local acts including Cashier No9, Toby Kaar, Bocs Social, Wonder Villains, The 1930s, Silhouette and David Turpin will be playing throughout the two days.

Base takes place from 2pm-6pm both Saturday and Sunday, with a special show on Saturday night from 7pm-11pm. Entry during the day is free and £5 after 6pm on Saturday 20 February.  Tickets can be bought in advance at the Ulster Hall Box Office – by calling 028 9033 4455 or online at www.ulsterhall.co.uk.

Facebook link here.

The U:Mag is the main output from the Urban Arts Academy.  It’s created entirely by students from the Journalism, Photography and Graphic Design courses.  We’ve seen a sneak preview and it’s looking great this year.  Come see what it’s all about at the official U:Mag launch, taking place in the Arc Café the same day as the fantastic Christmas Souk – a super edition of the Fashion Souk to include homeware and gifts as well as locally designed and vintage clothes.

Mulled wine, juice and mince pies will be served.

Participants are invited to give talks, do demonstrations, and show their work and it is these participants who then set the agenda and decide on topics for the day. There will also be facilitated networking and a creative industries discussion session. Creative Camp combines the best of creativity, business and technology in a unique format to encourage networking, collaboration and peer on peer learning.

For more details check out http://www.creativecampbelfast.co.uk/

Secret Wars has travelled across the globe, from New York to Tokyo, and now the world’s premier art battle returns to Belfast.

Secret Wars is like a Fight Club for artists, where teams go head-to-head to fill up a white wall with nothing but skill and black markers.

2 teams, 6 artists and 90 minutes to battle it out against eachother.

Hydroponic Hi-Fi provide the music…

Top Ranking Reggae featuring selector Michael McKeown & live vocals from MC Krow

All angles of Reggae – dub to dancehall and rocksteady to roots, with a sprinkling of ska for good measure.

Saturday 20 November, 9pm
Black Box Belfast, Hill Street
£5 on the door

An All Hallows’ Eve spectacular special: a bustling bizarre bazaar filled with foolish and fantastical strangers who have journeyed from afar and strange unimagined ‘Imagi-nimals’; a hubbub of hullabaloo.

Big folk and little folk alike are invited down to mingle and make merry with the mysterious magical marvels at the weird and wonderful faerie fare.

Belfast is awash with exciting up-and-coming music talents but often these acts aren’t accessible to younger music lovers. With Pre-Teenage Kicks kids get to experience all the excitement of a live music show in an event specifically designed for them.

This time we have two of the most exciting rising talents on the Belfast scene –  John Shelly and the Creatures who have recently released their debut album ‘Dinosaur’ to critical acclaim, and Silhouette whose single Volume Destroyed has seen her profile rocket in recent months. A perfect first gig for any young music fan.

http://www.myspace.com/jsatc
http://www.myspace.com/silhouetteofficial

All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult

The cafe will be open from 1pm – free entry, pizza slices and drinks on sale.

Goblin Market
Black Box Belfast (Hill Street, Cathedral Quarter)
Saturday 30 October, 1pm-5pm
£1
An All Hallows’ Eve spectacular special: a bustling bizarre bazaar filled with foolish and fantastical strangers who have journeyed from afar and strange unimagined ‘Imagi-nimals’; a hubbub of hullabaloo.  Make merry with the mysterious magical marvels at the weird and wonderful faerie fare.

Pre-Teenage Kicks Hallowe’en Party
with John Shelly & the Creatures + Silhouette
Black Box Belfast
Sunday 31 October, 2pm-4pm
£5

Belfast is awash with exciting up-and-coming music talents but often these acts aren’t accessible to younger music lovers. With Pre-Teenage Kicks kids get to experience all the excitement of a live music show in an event specifically designed for them.

This time we have two of the most exciting rising talents on the Belfast scene –  John Shelly and the Creatures who have recently released their debut album ‘Dinosaur’ to critical acclaim, and Silhouette whose single Volume Destroyed has seen her profile rocket in recent months. A perfect first gig for any young music fan.

http://www.myspace.com/jsatc

http://www.myspace.com/silhouetteofficial

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

The cafe will be open from 1pm – free entry, pizza slices and drinks on sale.

Black Market is, as ever, a celebration of creativity and the DIY spirit, a marketplace showcasing the work of independent artists, designers, illustrators and crafters alongside bountiful stalls from collectors of records, books and vintage clothing.

The market offers a chance to meet these talented creatives, to purchase their wares, trade ideas and hopefully leave you feeling inspired to create things yourself.

There will be live music each day with Hayseed Dixie to headline – onstage 2.30pm, Sunday as well as prizes for best hotter-than-hell fancy dress – hillbilly, hobo, pin-up etc.

Other ChilliFest highlights include:

Hot chilli pepper eating competitions / Reverend Deadeye’s No Man Gospel Band / Strictly Come Barn Dancing / Beard grooming / Helium karaoke / Cupcake Corner / Chilli Market / Cajun Café / Record fair / Vintage Rocks hairstyling / Vintage clothing / Tattoo & body painting by Alternative Ink / No Alibis book tent with gigs n’ readings / Seaside photoboard / Rock n’ Roll cookery demos plus courtyard seating, outdoor bar & hot food stalls