Established 2004 Website placeni.org | Type Architecture Centre | |
Location 7-9 Lower Garfield Street, Belfast, BT1 1FP | ||
PLACE Built Environment Centre (shortened to PLACE) is a non-profit architecture organisation. Its premises is in 7-9 Lower Garfield Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland. It runs a public programme of events and exhibitions in Belfast, Derry/Londonderry and other towns and cities in Northern Ireland. It runs education projects in schools and community participation projects in local neighbourhoods. The vision statement of PLACE is "a better place to live, work and play, inspired by communities making a difference." PLACE is an acronym for Planning, Landscape, Architecture, Community and Environment.
Contents
Public programme
PLACE runs a programme of exhibitions, debates and discussions, architecture tours, site visits and design workshops on various local and international built environment topics relevant to Northern Ireland. Some exhibitions are produced in-house or commissioned by PLACE, while others are travelling exhibitions produced by external curators and organisations. Most events and exhibitions are open to the general public. Occasionally events are targeted at specific groups (e.g. architects and architecture students, children and young people, cultural organisations, community workers). PLACE events are occasionally hosted by other venues in Belfast (such as the Ulster Hall) and in other towns and cities in Northern Ireland.
Projects
PLACE also runs architecture and urban design education and community projects in areas across Northern Ireland and produces publications on built environment topics relevant to Northern Ireland.
History
PLACE was established in 2004 by the Royal Society of Ulster Architects and Belfast City Council, with support from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland under its Architecture and Built Environment Policy. From 2004 until 2011, PLACE was a part of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects. It was established as an independent private limited company in April 2011.
Structure and funding
The organisation is governed by a voluntary Management Board. The Chairman of PLACE is Iain Davidson. PLACE has five staff members, an occasional voluntary team and a voluntary internship scheme for eight-ten interns per year (typically lasting three months each). The primary funding for PLACE comes from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Department for Social Development, Department of the Environment, Department of Finance and Personnel and the Strategic Investment Board.