21 D/deaf, disabled and neurodiverse artists from NI awarded funding to create new work

21 D/deaf, disabled and neurodiverse artists are set to benefit from £23,000 funding through the D/Deaf and Disabled Artists Support Fund (DDASF) and Digital Innovation Award, administered by the University of Atypical on behalf of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The scheme, which offers grants of up to £1000 to each artist, and £3000 for the Digital Innovation Award, is designed to support D/deaf, disabled and neurodiverse artists in the professional development of their artistic careers by providing funding for the creation of new work.

The fund is made possible thanks to The National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland with additional funding from the Santander Foundation which supports a Digital Innovation Award.

Edel Murphy, Chief Executive, University of Atypical, said,

“The importance of this funding scheme should not be underestimated at a time of financial uncertainty for disabled artists. This fund is a modest but certain endorsement for disabled artists to develop new work and sustain their work as creative practitioners. The twenty artists who received funding will create new writing, tour existing work, develop new skills through mentorship. Artists who are d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent face barriers to their development and inclusion throughout their educational, social and professional lives - this is a dedicated fund that recognises and alleviates these barriers enabling them to actively progress their careers as professional artists.

We are so proud of the quality and scope of work funded in this round including opera, creative writing, visual arts, performance, digital arts, Irish language arts and dance. A sample of work of each artist will form an exhibition of the award scheme in January 2026 at the Atypical Gallery.”

Patricia Lavery, Head of Community Arts and Education, Arts Council of Northern Ireland commented,

“The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is committed to improving access to the arts for d/Deaf, disabled and neurodiverse artists working here and to provide meaningful opportunities for these artists to develop their professional, artistic careers. We are delighted to support these awards through our National Lottery funding which is a game changer in helping these artists create new work. A warm congratulations to all the awardees, we’re excited to see their projects develop in the year ahead.”

Examples of those set to receive funding include:

• Paul Moore, has been offered the Digital Innovation Award, supported by the Santander Foundation. Paul is a film-based visual artist who will use the funding for project entitled 'Intangible Bodies: Neurodivergent Interfaces'.
• Writer and performer Abby Oliveira will use the funding to develop a script on the theme of 'matrescene' and the turbulent transition into motherhood.
• Writer Brian McAvera will use the funding towards a research and development trip to the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris.
• Solo circus/performance artist Darren Murphy will use the funding towards mentoring in theatre and circus.
• Elly Makem will use the funding towards the development of comic illustrations based on the themes of gender and autism.
• Established vocal artist Eve Belle will use the funding for recording studio time to record two bilingual tracks in English-Irish.
• Dance artist Helen Hall will use the funding towards mentoring.
• Visual artist Jayne Cherry will use the funding to spend time at the Irish Pagan School and Sacred Flow Art Community creating new work that explores how the body is impacted by illness and aging.
• Music/Opera writer and director Kate Guelke will use the funding towards mentoring with Katie Mitchell – an award-winning opera director.

All those offered funding include:

Digital Innovation Award. £3000

● Paul Moore, film-based visual artist

DDASF Awards, £1000 each

1. Abby Oliveira, writer and performer.

2. Billí Mills, dance and Irish language artist.

3. Brian McAvera, writer.

4. Darlene Corry, writer.

5. Darren Murphy, circus/performance artist.

6. Elly Makem, visual artist.

7. Emma Brennan, visual artist.

8. Eve Belle, singer/musician.

9. Finn Nichol, performance/visual artist.

10. Hannah Smith, visual artist.

11. Indigo Azidahaka, visual/sculpture-based artist.

12. Jamie Baker, visual artist.

13. Jayne Cherry, visual artist.

14. Kat Woods, writer.

15. Kate Guelke, opera writer and director.

16. Liam Devlin, songwriter and poet.

17. Niamh Scullion, writer.

18. Paul Moore, visual-film artist - Digital Innovation Award.

19. Shiro Masuyama, visual artist.

20. Sinéad O Donnell, performance artist.

21. Helen Hall, Dance artist.