This International Women’s Week the Arts Council of NI is shining a light on some of the many talented women working in the arts

Eibhlín De Barra, Director, Young at Art - “The arts bring joy, and I think everyone needs that today more than ever.”

A leading light in children’s arts, Eibhlín De Barra, has worked at Young at Art since 2011 and has been Director for the past 10 years. She has supported 15 Belfast Children’s Festivals within this time and is in the midst of this year’s festival programme which is running until 14 March.

Eibhlín told us more about the importance of bringing the arts to everyone: “For many children and young people the Belfast Children's Festival will be their first experience of live performing arts, and that's not 'child's play', it's a responsibility we take very seriously.

“We work hard to ensure that experience is accessible, inclusive, innovative, of the highest quality, and above all fun! The festival's international programme hosts performance work simply not seen in Northern Ireland at any other time of the year.

“Young at Art also delivers a year-round education and engagement programme, last year we worked with 36 schools - nursery, primary, secondary and special schools - benefitting over 1,700 children and young people.

“The arts have an important role to play in supporting young people develop social and emotional skills to build their resilience, support their well-being, and help them fulfil their full potential.

“But also, the arts bring joy, and I think everyone needs that today more than ever, and this year's Belfast Children's Festival programme focuses on hope and joy, the need for human connection and the importance of friendship and kindness.”

The Belfast Children's Festival 2026, which received funding from the Arts Council of NI, runs until 14 March. View the programme: https://youngatart.co.uk/whats-on/

Aoife Boyle (Reevah), Musician - “I write music in the hope that it resonates - that someone can find a piece of themselves in it.”

Talented artist Aoife Boyle, known as Reevah, is a musician and songwriter from Derry~Londonderry. Her debut album Daylight Savings, which was nominated for Album of the Year at the Northern Ireland Music Prize, reflects on themes of positivity, change, and the strength of women. Aoife is also co-founder of FUSE arts in Derry~Londonderry.

Reevah told us more about the importance of sharing her music with everyone: “I’ve been a practising and performing artist for over ten years now, but my connection to the arts goes back much further – it means everything to me. Through my musical project Reevah and the arts organisation I co-founded, I’m living and breathing Art every single day.

“My practice as Reevah is especially important to me because it’s my outlet, a space where I can express myself freely and share what I love to do with others. With the support of the Arts Council of NI, I’ve been able to create another brand-new body of work, which is something I’m incredibly grateful for.

“I write music in the hope that it resonates - that someone can find a piece of themselves in it. When that happens, the song becomes bigger than me, their story meets mine, and that connection is what it’s all about.”

Reevah has supported, and performed alongside, artists such as Snow Patrol, Freya Ridings, The Corona’s The Academic, LYRA, Dean Lewis, SOAK, and Saint Sister. Her second album has also recently been awarded the PPL Momentum Fund.

Find out more about Reevah

Cat Brogan, Poet - “The arts bring people together and remind us, we’re not alone.”

Award-winning Poet, Cat Brogan, is an educator, host, producer, and project manager. Originally from Omagh, she began her career when she won the Belfast Poetry Cup in 2008 and has gone on to perform at festivals, won Slams, been published, spoken at academic conferences, and featured on BBC and RTE. Not stopping there, she’s also co-founded an LGBT social centre in Kuala Lumpur and co-founded Omagh Pride in 2021. She also runs Rainbow Writes, a creative writing initiative, funded by the Arts Council of NI, is aimed at empowering LGBTQ+ voices through creative expression.

Cat told us more about the importance of using poetry to give people a voice: “It’s important to me to create spaces where people feel able to speak honestly about their lives and be heard.

“Projects like Rainbow Writes have shown me how poetry and storytelling help people find words for experiences they’ve carried quietly for years. At its best, the arts bring people together and remind us, we’re not alone.”

The showcase event for Rainbow Writes is on 27 March, find out more here: Rainbow Writes Showcase - Strule Arts Centre. Cat is also hosting an event this weekend for International Women’s Day, find out more here: Celebrating Women and Heritage for International Women's Day - Strule Arts Centre

Find out more about Cat Brogan

Sharon Kelly, Visual Artist – “The most important thing to me about the art I deliver is that it finds resonance for others in a multi layered way over time.”

Acclaimed visual Artist, Sharon Kelly, won the 2023 Arts Council of Northern Ireland Major Individual Award, in recognition of her contribution to the arts. Her practice mediates between memory, experience and imagination, working across 2 and 3D processes, including drawing, painting, print, sculpture and installation.

Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and she recently facilitated workshops for young people as part of the Arts Council’s Art Lending Scheme for Schools.

Speaking about the importance of visual art, Sharon said: “I’ve been a practicing artist since the late 1980’s and the most important thing to me about the art I deliver is that it finds resonance for others in a multi-layered way over time.”

Find out more about Sharon Kelly