Disabled NI artists receive £94,000 Covid support

Forty-four d/Deaf and disabled artists have been awarded £94,000 in funding to create new work and support them through the Covid-19 crisis.
By Helen McGurk
Published 24th Feb 2021, 13:26 BST
Updated 25th Feb 2021, 07:36 BST
Painter Ciaran Magill from Newcastle, one of the recipients of the d/Deaf and Disabled Artists Support Fund 2020/21Painter Ciaran Magill from Newcastle, one of the recipients of the d/Deaf and Disabled Artists Support Fund 2020/21
Painter Ciaran Magill from Newcastle, one of the recipients of the d/Deaf and Disabled Artists Support Fund 2020/21

The University of Atypical, on behalf of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Department for Communities, has awarded the grants from the d/Deaf and Disabled Artists Support Fund 2020/21 at a time when artists’ potential to generate income has been seriously impacted by the closure of art galleries, theatres, music venues and other creative outlets.

The 44 awards were made to individual artists with 41 receiving grants of £2,000 each.

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Three artists received grants of £4,000 each in recognition of the quality of their professional practice. They are musician and composer, Ruth McGinley from Belfast, filmmaker Jamie Baker from Comber, and painter Ciaran Magill (pictured) from Newcastle.

Grants will enable d/Deaf and Disabled Artists and performers to buy time to create, purchase equipment or materials, and access mentoring and training to enhance their professional practice and career development.

Damien Coyle, ceo of the University of Atypical, said: “The awards recognise the important contribution d/Deaf and disabled artists make to our society and they will create a legacy beyond the current pandemic as the visual arts and crafts works produced through the commissions go on display at public venues across Northern Ireland.”

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Related topics:Department for Communities