Outpouring is a takeover of Riddel’s Warehouse in the centre of Belfast by artist Joe Caslin, co-created with over 120 young people from across the city.

Acclaimed artist Joe Caslin will unveil a powerful new immersive installation in Belfast this weekend, transforming Riddel’s Warehouse into a powerful space for young voices exploring themes of identity, belonging and life in Northern Ireland today.

At the centre of the Outpouring installation is a large-scale artwork created in Caslin’s signature style, stretching the full height of the building’s four-storey atrium. Encompassing it on both sides is a collection of visual art and written responses developed by young people during a six-month cross-community engagement programme grounded in a simple but important question: “Tell us what we need to hear.”

A specially developed augmented reality app will allow visitors to experience the artwork in new ways, bringing the installation to life through interactive digital content. Visitors can explore the stories behind the young people’s work and share their own thoughts and reflections inspired by what they’ve seen.

The result is an experience that is at times confronting, hopeful, and deeply personal. Across the installation, recurring themes emerge including identity, worry, Northern Ireland, togetherness, feeling overwhelmed, and hope.

Renowned for his large-scale, monochrome pencil drawings on public buildings across the UK and Ireland, Caslin has transformed Riddel’s Warehouse using biodegradable materials, creating a visually striking work designed to leave no trace. The historic building has been reimagined as a canvas for a new generation of voices and experiences.

Archive film also features throughout the experience, with additional content unlocked through the app alongside an archive cinema space displaying contemporary film collected from communities across Belfast through the Northern Ireland Now project.

Speaking ahead of the project launch, artist Joe Caslin said: “Too often, young people’s voices are overlooked or dismissed, it can feel like what they have to say doesn’t matter. Outpouring creates a space where young people are given the agency to define how they are seen and understood. It encourages audiences to pay closer attention to their experiences, perspectives and realities. Riddel’s Warehouse is a remarkable setting for this project. It is exciting to breathe new life into this historic building and fill it with the stories and emotions of a new generation.”

Niall Kerr, Head of Heritage and Community Relations at Nerve Centre, said: “We believe young people should have meaningful opportunities to shape conversations about the future of Northern Ireland. Outpouring creates a platform for young people to speak honestly about identity, pressure, hope and belonging, using creativity and technology to share experiences that are often unheard. The honesty and imagination within the work is incredibly powerful, and we hope audiences leave with a deeper understanding of the experiences of young people today.”

Outpouring is free to visit and will open to the public from Saturday 30 May until Sunday 5 July. Opening hours are 11am–4pm, Thursday to Sunday, except on Thursday 4 June and Thursday 2 July, when it will open from 5pm–10pm as part of Late Night Art.

A programme of free events will accompany Outpouring, including digital art workshops for young people, archive film screenings, and a storytelling event in partnership with Tenx9. For more information and to book tickets, visit the Nerve Centre website.

Outpouring is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs through the Reconciliation Fund, by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland through a Digital Evolution Award and is supported by the BFI.

For more information on the project visit the Nerve Centre website.