The MAC, Belfast [1]'s new city-centre arts space, was officially opened last night and opens today to the general public. Entrance to its galleries are free and the opening shows are led by A People Observed, an exhibition that shows work by LS Lowry [2] and Belfast-born William Conor. The exhibition draws on the industrial heritage of cities such as Belfast, Manchester and Salford, and Lowry’s work is being shown in Northern Ireland for the first time. In the MAC’s two smaller galleries work by Los Angeles-based artist Robert Therrien and local artists Nicholas Keogh and Maria McKinney is being shown.

The inaugural theatrical production at the MAC, Titanic (Scenes from the British Wreck Commissioner’s Inquiry, 1912) by Owen McCafferty and directed by Charlotte Westenra [3], opens on 22 April. It stars Thomas Howes (from Downton Abbey [4]), Ben Caplan (Call the Midwife [5]) and Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones).

Details at www.themaclive.com [6]