Funding boost for 20 D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists

The newly named Atypical Generation Fund was formerly called the D/Deaf and Disabled Artists Support Fund. The National Lottery funded programme will support artists from across Northern Ireland specialising in a range of art forms. 

Grants include providing training and mentoring, producing stage plays, funding a deaf actress in an independent film, creative research time, and development of illustration, literature, visual arts and musical pieces of work.

Edel Murphy, CEO and Artistic Director, University of Atypical, said: “While it has a new name, these grants have been a long-standing support for individual artists who are Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent to support their careers. There is a wealth of talent coming through this fund and while the grants are modest, the awards have an incredible impact on the artists. This fund is an important route for disabled artists to play an active role in the creative sector of Northern Ireland.”

Patricia Lavery, Head of Community Arts and Education, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented: “Congratulations to the 20 artists who have been awarded funding. I sincerely hope this goes some way to help you be empowered to fulfil your creative ambition and achieve your full potential in the pursuit of artistic excellence. Ensuring that all audiences can, in their turn, enjoy equitable access to these proposed enriching arts experiences. I wish you all the very best in this next step in your creative journey and can’t wait to see the outcomes in the year ahead.”

21-year-old Conor Bruen from Belfast is one of the Atypical Generation Fund grant recipients. Conor is an emerging rap and hip-hop artist performing under the artist name 'Wee Polo'. He’s been funded to receive mentoring and studio sessions to develop a new music track.

Conor said: “I’m a rapper and I got funded to work with a professional music engineer and mentor from London. With my autism I find it difficult to keep to the timing of the beats and I get a lot of people thinking my autism means I can’t be a rapper, so this will help me to produce a better song and show people what I can do.”

Strabane-based Isaac Quinn also received funding. Isaac said: “This funding is supporting me, as a disabled person with accessibility needs, to be able to travel to London and stay in suitable accommodation, so I can perform at the Camden Fringe Festival. My one man show, ‘Retardant’, is about a young autistic trans man, leaving his home in rural Donegal for Belfast, in pursuit of his coming-of-age dreams, inspired by his favourite TV show - it's about fandom, it's about queer coming of age, and there's musical numbers. I'm really happy to have gotten this funding, and the support and belief in me from University of Atypical means a lot and has given me so much confidence in myself.”

Full list of artists awarded £1,000 grants:  

• Aisling Monds, Derry/Londonderry, Mixed media / Visual arts & Literature
• Andrew McNeill, Belfast, Literature
• Ben Malcolmson, Belfast, Visual Arts
• Caitlin Magnall-Kearns, Belfast, Theatre & Literature
• Catherine Regan, Portadown, Literature
• Conor Bruen, Belfast, Music
• Heather Martin, Ballymena, Theatre & Literature
• Isaac Quinn, Strabane, Literature
• Jack Corbett, Belfast, Music – audio
• Justine Scoltock, Derry/Londonderry, Visual Arts
• Keith McAllister, Belfast, Music
• Lucy Mulholland, Saintfield, Visual Art/Sculpture
• Niamh McPhillips, Derry/Londonderry, Theatre/Performance
• Norma Beggs, Co Antrim, Craft/Textile
• Omar Gunnoo, Belfast, Film/Screenplay
• Paul Mulgrew, Portadown, Visual Art & literature
• Rachel Devlin, Belfast, Visual Arts & Illustration
• Rohan Young, Belfast, Music
• Ruth McGinley, Belfast, Music
• Shannon Yee (Sickels), Belfast, Literature

To find out more about the Atypical Generation Fund visit Atypical Generation Fund – University of Atypical