The Society is celebrating its Bicentenary in 2021 and a series of events and publications are planned for this year. Of special note is a keynote lecture which will be given by Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell.

About the Society

The Belfast Natural History & Philosophical Society (commonly known as The Belfast Society) was founded in 1821 to promote knowledge in the arts and sciences and today provides a lecture programme based at the Old Museum Building, 6 College Square North.

The Society provides a forum for debate on important cultural issues, reflecting the intellectual life of Belfast and Ireland.

The Society also supports research and publications about Ireland and Ulster’s cultural and material environment.

Members are entitled to come to lectures and events arranged by the Society annually (including outings and book launches) and are encouraged to participate in the running of the Society.

With the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland, the Belfast Society is working in partnership with Ulster Architectural Heritage (UAH) on a project to consider options for the re-use of the Old Museum as an engaging and dynamic place to promote Northern Ireland’s unique heritage, history and culture to wider audiences and to preserve them for future generations.

The Old Museum Building is one of Belfast’s finest neo-classical buildings and also has connections with the Ulster Museum, where its former collections are housed.