Waterfront Hall has announced an exciting new partnership with BBC Introducing, joining a collaborative network of venues, promoters, educators and cultural organisations working together to nurture emerging music talent across Northern Ireland.
The partnership will create new pathways for up-and-coming artists, connecting grassroots creativity with professional development, live performance opportunities and potential national exposure.
Waterfront Hall will work alongside partners including Glasgowbury, Oh Yeah Centre, The Limelight Belfast, Shine Promotions and The Nerve Centre to strengthen support for artists and raise the profile of Northern Ireland’s vibrant music scene.
As part of the collaboration, Waterfront Hall will help provide performance opportunities for up-and-coming artists, including emerging talent showcases in the Waterfront Studio and other suitable spaces as the venue continues to grow its role as a home for new music. The partnership will also support closer working between arts venues and industry partners.
Running until June 2028, the partnership will build on existing artist development activity across Northern Ireland, combining the expertise, audiences and resources of each partner. Through regular collaboration, shared programming and artist signposting, the initiative aims to create a clearer journey from first local performances to wider industry recognition.
This new partnership builds on an ambition to discover and support new music in Northern Ireland, strengthening connections between artists, venues and the wider music industry.
Pete McKevitt, Head of Entertainment at Waterfront Hall said: “We are incredibly excited to be working with BBC Introducing on this important partnership. Northern Ireland has an extraordinary depth of creative talent, and as one of Belfast’s most iconic venues, Waterfront Hall is proud to play a part in helping emerging artists take their next steps. By working alongside other arts venues, promoters and cultural partners, we can help build a stronger, more connected pathway for new talent — from first performances, in our bars entertaining audiences before a larger gig through to mixed bill concerts bigger stages and wider audiences. Of course the end goal is that we help fuel our home-grown talent to play headline shows in our iconic venues.”
The partnership will also encourage opportunities for emerging creative professionals to gain experience in areas such as curation, content creation, presenting and live event delivery, supporting not only artists on stage but the wider ecosystem that helps new music thrive.
Further details on Waterfront Hall activity, artist opportunities and upcoming showcases will be announced in due course.
