CEO MONTHLY / NOVEMBER 2025 17 Belfast Exposed: Photography for Everyone Born in the wake of the 1981 Northern Ireland hunger strikes, a pivotal point in the Troubles – a period of conflict that lasted for around 30 years across the nation and bled into neighbouring countries – Belfast Exposed was created when Danny Burke, a local teacher, trade unionist, and community activist, decided to collate a group of local photographers to create an exhibition that reflected Belfast from the inside out. Its inaugural exhibition then launched in the city’s Conway Mill building in 1983, to widespread acclaim. Originally comprising more than 200 photographs and slides, the exhibition showcased day-to-day life within the city, primarily from a working-class perspective. Despite being on the nationalist side of Belfast’s ‘Peace Wall’, the exhibition garnered interest from across the city, before moving to the Bank of Ireland Gallery in Dublin. Upon seeing the exhibition, Seamus Heaney, the renowned Irish poet, spoke of the “powerful, democratic feel running through these photographs”, which captured a nation’s shared experiences. In the wake of the exhibition’s success, Belfast Exposed blossomed into a burgeoning visual arts organisation, one representing the work of diverse photographers hailing from a range of backgrounds. Developments in the years since have seen a crosscommunity steering committee recruited and exhibitions brought to all areas of the city, with new photographic practices paving the way for new ways to document and reimagine this ever-evolving region. Through this, Belfast Exposed has ensured its relevance for a new generation. The organisation has called the Cathedral Quarter in Belfast home now since 2003 and is proud to engage with tens of thousands of people from across Northern Ireland every year – from photographers and artists to activists, students, young people, tourists, and everyone in between. Today, these groups can view five public galleries within Belfast Exposed’s spaces, all of which showcase world-class art and reflect the contemporary currents across modern photography and political landscapes, making them storytelling masterpieces. Aside from its exhibitions, Belfast Exposed also boasts a Futures programme designed to support artists and curators early in their career, youth programmes for children interested photography, and a therapeutic photography programme focused on mental health and wellbeing. Corporate packages are also available, with these aiding businesses through the provision of skills training, wellbeing workshops, and a city-centre venue where they can hold events. In this way, Belfast Exposed has grown into a community pillar. Preserving the organisation’s status as such is awardwinning CEO Deirdre Robb, whose more than 25 years of experience in the field of photography and visual arts makes her the perfect person to lead Belfast Exposed to new heights. With Deirdre previously working for the likes of Arts Council Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council, as well as graduating from the University of Ulster with a BA in fine art in 1999 and a masters in 2001, she had long been aware of the organisation and was a fan of its work before joining. In the seven years that she has held this top spot, Deirdre has taken a hands-on approach to not only her role within the organisation, but also a thought leader in the wider arts and cultural scene across the country. For example, she recently contributed an essay to the local ‘Fortnight’ magazine, which covers politics, arts, and culture in Northern Ireland. She wrote about the power of therapeutic photography, speaking at length about the work Belfast Exposed does within it, including its ‘Healing Through Photography’ events. This is just the beginning, and thanks to her recent work with Rose Regeneration, Deirdre has been able to show that for every £1 invested in Belfast Exposed, a social-value return of £5.10 is received. Such a remarkable feat demonstrates the organisation’s aim of making photography for everyone, nurturing its power to reflect history, inform the present, and inspire a better future for everyone across Northern Ireland. For her rigorous adherence to upholding this, Deirdre is befitting of both this title and a place in the feature. More information about Belfast Exposed can be found at the link below. Contact Details Contact: Deirdre Robb Company: Belfast Exposed Web Address: https://www. belfastexposed.org/ On a mission to enrich lives through the power of photography, Belfast Exposed has been challenging, shaping, and adding new meaning to culture and society in Northern Ireland for more than 40 years. The unique photo collection it houses captures the past and present of this great nation, in the process portraying what it can one day become. Deirdre Robb has been in charge of this operation since August 2018 and following her recognition as the Most Influential CEO 2025 – Visual Arts & Community Engagement (Northern Ireland), we pulled back the curtain on Belfast Exposed.
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