Colourful new mural celebrates Belfast’s four years as a UNESCO City of Music

Mural artists Friz (Marian Noone) and Gerry Norman with the new mural unveiled at the Telegraph Building in Donegall Street

A vibrant new mural celebrating Belfast’s musical heritage has been unveiled on Donegall Street, marking four years since the city became a UNESCO City of Music – the only city in Ireland to hold the prestigious title.

The large-scale artwork, commissioned by Belfast City Council, was created by acclaimed artists Friz (Marian Noone) and Gerry Norman.

Stretching across the side of the Telegraph Building, the colourful design showcases a wide range of musical styles and genres, reflecting Belfast’s dynamic and diverse music scene.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly, said the mural encapsulates the creativity at the heart of the city’s cultural identity.

“This mural really sums up the vibrancy and colour music brings to our city, whatever genre you’re into,” she said.

Reflecting on the progress made since Belfast’s UNESCO designation in 2021, she added:

“Since we received our UNESCO designation in 2021, there’s been a phenomenal amount of work done with our local musicians, venues and industry professionals to support their development and creativity and to maximise this accolade for the benefit of all those who work with, and enjoy, live music.”

New mural unveiled at the Telegraph Building in Donegall Street

The mural’s unveiling comes during the Sound of Belfast Festival, which runs until 16 November across 27 venues, and amid celebrations for this week’s NI Music Prize, honouring outstanding local artists.

Councillor Kelly added that new late-night bus services launching this month will further bolster the night-time economy:

“The addition of late-night buses to the city centre later this month will also provide another boost to our music scene, making travel to and from gigs more accessible and affordable, not just for music fans, but for those who work in the gig economy also.”

A ‘Labour of Love’ for the Artists

New mural unveiled at the Telegraph Building in Donegall Street

Artist Friz (Marian Noone) said creating the mural was both challenging and rewarding due to its scale and significance.

“So much good music has come out of Belfast over the years. It’s great that this is recognised by UNESCO, so why not celebrate it?” she said.

“We had the design lined up from last year and myself and my husband Gerry worked on the mural for 16 days. It was a challenging wall - a real labour of love - as the scale is massive, but it’s been a very rewarding project and a topic we’re both passionate about.”

The mural now joins Belfast’s growing collection of distinctive street artworks – many supported by council funding – that help define the character of the city centre and its cultural quarters.

Investment in Belfast’s Music Sector

The artwork forms part of Belfast City Council’s Music Matters programme, which has invested £400,000 in the local music sector over the past year.

Initiatives delivered through the programme include:

• Pathways into Music conference – supporting tutors and teachers working with young people entering the industry.

• A WorkPlus internship scheme, offering four paid placements with festivals and events organisations.

• NI Venues Day, promoting the importance of grassroots music spaces.

The council also continues to support the Gradam Ceoil bursary scheme for traditional musicians, alongside TG4 and the Duncairn, and a micro-bursary scheme with the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, which last year awarded 20 musicians up to £1,000 each.

Throughout 2025, funding has been allocated to a range of music festivals and events, such as:

• The Soultrane Festival (February)

• A reggae and ska all-ages celebration at the Imagine Festival (March)

• The Output Conference for industry professionals (September)

• LyndonFest community festival (September)

• The NI Music Prize (this week)

Partnerships and Future Plans

Council-backed partnership projects include:

• Gig Buddies, helping people with additional needs enjoy night-time entertainment

• Sounds Atypical with University of Atypical, supporting nine musicians to deliver accessible, disabled-led events

• International collaborations and exchanges with UNESCO Cities of Music including Hannover (Germany), Ontario (Canada) and Daegu (South Korea)

A new sustainability toolkit for the music sector will soon be launched on the Music Connections website, while further programmes are in development to support young people, disabled audiences, and local music businesses.

More information on support for Belfast’s music scene can be found at belfastcity.gov.uk/music.