The University of Atypical has awarded £1,000 grants through the Atypical Generation Fund to 20 D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists across the north, including three from Derry.
Niamh McPhillips, an artist from Derry, is one of the Atypical Generation Fund grant recipients.
Niamh received funding to research and develop a six-month youth theatre programme, exploring consent, boundaries, and communication through movement, clowning, and physical storytelling.
The programme will run in a youth arts setting, providing a safe, playful, and inclusive environment for neurodivergent young people to explore creativity, agency, and expression.
Also based in Derry, artist Aisling Monds received funding to create a mixed media/visual arts and literary body of work addressing grief, loss and recovery.
Justine Scoltock, from Derry, also received funding from the Atypical Generation Fund. Justine is using the grant to develop a new body of visual artwork exploring the relationship between traditional fairy tales and feminist perspectives on identity, power, and representation.
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 the North specialising in a range of art forms.
Edel Murphy, CEO and Artistic Director, University of Atypical, said: “While it has a new name ‘Atypical Generation Fund’, 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.”
