Belfast City Council has bought the former Bank of Ireland on the city’s Royal Avenue to home a new £100 million tourist project.
The listed art deco building will be restored and turned into Belfast Stories, visitor experience which will tell the stories of Belfast, the people and the place.
It will also include a multi-screen cultural film centre and public spaces for events and ‘ongoing programming’, the council said.
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The project is one of seven to focus on tourism and regeneration under the Belfast Region City Deal, Northern Ireland’s first city deal which was signed earlier this week.
As well as the building, a 4,000 square metre site will be developed with the aim of opening the attraction in 2028.
“This is a transformative project, not just for our city centre, but for the entire region,” Belfast City Council Chief Executive and chair of the BRCD Executive Board Suzanne Wylie said. “I am delighted that now, with the signing of the Belfast Region City Deal, we can take the first steps on our journey to make this landmark tourism attraction a reality.
“The positive impact of delivering the Belfast Stories development will be felt for many years to come, with the seeds sewn now as we look ahead to opening the venue in 2028. I am immensely pleased that we are at this point in our BRCD journey and to have reached this important milestone.”
The new film centre will showcase the best visual storytelling from NI and around the world as well as supporting the skills and talents of local artists, supporting sector growth.
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It will also provide important access to Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive, allowing visitors to explore our rich screen history and authentic local stories, all facilitated by a year-round programme of talks and interactive events.
“It’s widely acknowledged that Belfast punches above its weight when it comes to its cultural offering,” Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said. “The creativity on these shores cannot be overstated; we are a veritable powerhouse, and the Belfast Stories project will keep that momentum going in the right direction.
“Our culture and arts sector is starting to get the recognition it so rightly deserves in being central to Belfast’s future as we continue on our post-Covid journey. We now have a wonderful opportunity to seek out and curate the stories of our city for a new audience, and ensure they are preserved for future generations. Today’s stories are, after all, the stuff which legends are made of, and it’s time that we celebrated Belfast for all its complexities and be proud of this city we call home.”