News and Events
The important meetings and events for NIGAT throughout the year are the Day Meetings, the Summer School and the AGM which all offer the opportunity to come together with other members, or for non-members to learn more about NIGAT, Art Therapy and Art as Therapy.
Also listed is the Latest News about other events, conferences, courses and research relevant to Art Therapy and the Creative Therapies.
Day Meetings
NIGAT holds three Day Meetings per year, which combines experiential art making workshops and presentations on theoretical approaches, case studies and themes relevant to the Creative Therapies.
The Day Meetings provide the Group with an important opportunity to come together in an informal way; create space and time to connect with their own art making; or for those new to Art as Therapy to experience reflect, share and network.
Both members and non-members are all welcome. These Day Meetings are always held on the first Saturdays in February, June and October from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
There is a small fee for attending the day, or any part thereof, payable on arrival. The fee includes all art materials, refreshments and lunch:
For Members: £ 5.00
For Non-members: £10.00 (employed); £ 5.00 (unemployed)
The venue is usually the Ballyowen Day Centre, 179 Andersonstown Road, Belfast
(At the back of the Ballyowen Health Centre Complex) Click here for a map.
Please download the attachment for full details of the next meeting, as some details may vary during the year.
Day Meeting 
PDF 79kb
If you plan to attend the next Day Meeting or have any questions regarding the meetings please contact the NIGAT Secretary in advance.
We wish to express our special thanks and gratitude to the North West Belfast Social Services Trust and Margaret Dunlop for kindly making the Ballyowen Day Centre available to NIGAT as a venue for Day Meetings and the AGM.
Summer School
NIGAT has held an Art Therapy Summer School every summer, following the tradition started in 1993. The non-residential summer school is designed for therapists, artists, teachers, nurses, doctors, social workers, psychiatrists, probation officers, workers in statutory and voluntary agencies, prospective art therapy students, and all those interested in the therapeutic application of art with children and adults.
It runs for a week usually at the end of July and includes a combination of Presentations and experiential Workshops. Several Bursary Places are offered for NIGAT members to attend the full Summer School. For full details of the bursary scheme please download the brochure or send an email.
The Summer School provides a unique forum for persons:
- interested in using art-making to maintain and/or promote well-being
- interested in pursuing Art Therapy / Art Psychotherapy as a profession or within their existing work
- interested in exploring art-making for personal development
- generally wishing to gain / extend their awareness of the nature of Art Therapy / Art Psychotherapy.
Please note: the NIGAT Summer School will neither qualify persons as art therapists, nor it is to be seen as personal therapy, rather it will provide an introduction and/or extend ideas and skills.
Click here download the NIGAT Summer School Brochure:
16th Art Therapy Summer School [ Download ] PDF 343kb
15th Art Therapy Summer School [ Download ] PDF 40kb
14th Art Therapy Summer School [ Download ] PDF 40kb
If you would like to add your contact details to the Art Therapy Summer School mailing list, please send an email or write to NIGAT.
AGM
The AGM is held each year on the third or fourth Thursday in November from 7.30-9.30pm. Everyone interested is welcome to attend. The meeting addresses AGM business, news and developments followed by a Presentation or Guest Speaker and refreshments.
For full details of the next AGM please click to download PDF 40kb
If you plan to attend please inform the NIGAT Secretary in advance.
Members Nights
Through-out the year NIGAT holds special events just for members, so check the Latest News for any forthcoming events.