Belfast (Divis and the Black Mountain)
The second stop on our cosmic journey saw us land on top of Belfast's Divis and the Black Mountain in June 2022.
Bringing the Solar System Down to Earth
From June to July 2022, the solar system was reimagined as an 8.4 km sculpture trail along Divis and the Black Mountain — a breathtaking National Trust site renowned for its panoramic views over Belfast and beyond. Tens of thousands of visitors explored the trail, which came alive with tours, family-friendly events, and the Our Place Festival, featuring leading voices from the arts, politics, and science.
The trail, open from 11 June to 10 July, transformed the stunning blanket bog and boardwalks into a cosmic landscape. Visitors marvelled at out-of-this-world views over Belfast, and on clear days, the unique mountain scenery offered even more to admire. Highlights included a magical summer solstice celebration, the Our Place Festival, and the premiere of a brand-new animation by Oliver Jeffers.
Our Place Festival
As part of the Belfast trail, Our Place in Space launched the inaugural Our Place Festival, a celebration of creativity, science, and storytelling. Festival highlights included a captivating conversation with award-winning filmmaker Darren Aronofsky at the QFT and an inspiring discussion featuring Nobel Prize-winning cosmologist and dark energy pioneer Professor Brian Schmidt alongside Professor Lucie Green.
The festival also hosted thought-provoking talks with notable figures such as Jamie Dornan, Caitríona Balfe, Chelsea Clinton, and Daniel Lismore.
Missed out? Catch up on these unforgettable events and immerse yourself in the brilliance of Our Place Festival.
Our Place Is...
What does 'Our Place' mean to you?
We asked some of the leading STEAM thinkers from Belfast's Our Place Festival to tell us what our place means to them.
Hear from Our Place in Space designer Oliver Jeffers, global health advocate Chelsea Clinton, Nobel prize winning astrophysicist Brian Schmidt and many more on what their place means.
Photo Gallery
