Column | Preserving Artistic Legacy

CLARE LYMER OUTLINES NIVAL’S RECENT ACQUISITION OF THE BELFAST INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF PERFORMANCE ART ARCHIVE.

In a significant move for the preservation of Northern Ireland’s performance art history, the National Irish Visual Arts Library (NIVAL) has secured the archive of the Belfast International Festival of Performance Art (BIFPA). This acquisition safeguards invaluable insights into the country’s performance art heritage, offering future generations of artists, researchers, and the general public unprecedented access to a wealth of material documenting over a decade of boundary-pushing performances.

Founded by artist, lecturer and curator Brian Connolly, BIFPA was established as an independent annual festival within Ulster University in 2013. Dedicated to creating innovative performance works, it brought together international, national, and local artists, alongside emerging talent from Ulster University’s Belfast School of Art. BIFPA became a vital platform for experimental work, with performances that challenged traditional notions of visual arts and creative expression. Connolly’s vision, supported by other key figures such as Alastair MacLennan, Sandra Johnston, and the Bbeyond collective, significantly shaped Northern Ireland’s artistic landscape. Fostering collaboration and innovation, they created a support network that continues to thrive. The BIFPA archive stands as a testament to their efforts, preserving artists’ legacies while providing a comprehensive resource for future scholarship and creative exploration.

Performance art, by its ephemeral nature, poses unique challenges to preservation, resulting in a noticeable gap in Irish collections. The BIFPA archive, currently spanning from 2010 to 2024, counters this ephemerality with an extensive collection of digital-born materials. It comprises over 6,000 images and 400 videos of more than 200 performances. The archive documents the evolution of this dynamic art form, offering a rare resource that bridges past and present.

The archive’s significance is illuminated by the daring individual performances preserved within. One such instance is Christoff Gillen’s 2015 work, A Thousand and One Kisses, a performance that made headlines. Gillen chalked a ‘rainbow of love’ on pavements to highlight LGBTQ+ rights and marriage equality. The performance, however, was disrupted when a passerby became hostile, and a Belfast City Council warden issued Gillen a fine for graffiti. The artist’s solicitor argued that the act was a form of expression rather than vandalism. Ultimately, the council waived the fine, provided Gillen consulted them about future performances on public property. Highlighting tensions that can arise when performance art challenges societal norms and regulations, this and other BIFPA performances demonstrate the importance of boundary exploration to encourage dialogue.

Beyond its historical significance, the BIFPA archive is a living resource. Contemporary artists can draw inspiration from its rich documentation, and researchers can engage with primary source material to investigate the intersections of performance art with social and political movements. As the archive grows under NIVAL’s stewardship, it will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the future of performance art in Ireland. It preserves the work of trailblazing artists, ensuring their legacies will continue to inspire and influence new generations of creators.

In 2024, to mark its 175th anniversary, the Belfast School of Art announced a partnership with the National College of Art and Design (NCAD). This new collaboration highlights the importance of fostering innovation and knowledge exchange across institutions in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Together with NIVAL’s acquisition of the BIFPA archive, these initiatives underscore the value of cross-border cultural preservation and educational collaboration, enriching Ireland’s artistic and academic landscape.

NIVAL’s commitment to providing free access to its collections ensures that the BIFPA archive remains open for exploration, education, and research. Selected materials are accessible online through NIVAL’s digital catalogue, and the collection can be consulted in full at the NIVAL Reading Room.

Clare Lymer is Digital Collections Officer at NIVAL.

nival.ie