UPSTART: A Programme of Events Celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2016.

In 2010, Mayo County Council’s Arts Service initiated the UPSTART scheme, centred around International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Mayo’s Arts Service is nationally recognised for its Arts & Disability work and has been leading, supporting and developing relevant programmes throughout Mayo and beyond. This scheme provides support for arts projects/events in Mayo which provide access to quality arts experiences for people with disabilities in their own locality.

The UPSTART scheme has led to extraordinary outcomes including: 35 partnership projects, engaging 88 artists/facilitators, working with 480 participants with disabilities, over 311 workshops, 41 exhibitions/performances attended by over 1,700 people.

This year, six projects received funding through the UPSTART scheme. Each project is currently being developed and will come to fruition in December 2016.

Thursday 1st December, 2016

‘A Moving Adventure’ & ‘Let Us Be Heard’

Luisne Art Group & TACÚ Family Resource Centre (Ballinrobe), Scannán Technologies & Ridgepool Training Centre, Ballina Arts Centre (Ballina)
This celebratory programme was launched by Joanne Grehan, Director of Service, Mayo County Council.
Once again, the Luisne Art Group collaborated with the Scannán Technologies group, Ballina to experience each others work and share skills. In addition to an exhibition of work they made an animated i-stop motion film facilitated by artist/facilitators Breda Murphy and Silke Kauther which was screened to a packed house in Ballina Arts Centre. The audience were also treated to “Let Us Be Heard”! a new half hour percussion piece performed by Sound Warriors who are from the Ridgepool Training Centre, (Ballina) facilitated by percussionist Anthony McNamee. There was much excitement throughout and enthusiastic audience participation for the finale.

Friday 2nd December, 2016

Path
The Rural Training Centre, Patricia Youell & Maura Gilligan.
Visual artist Pat Youell and writer Maura Gilligan have been working with a group from the RTC and students from St. Anthony’s School, facilitating a collaborative text and textile project . The resulting exhibition celebrated nature and the cycle of the year and was launched on Friday 2nd December at the Rural Training Centre, by Lorna Elms (Education & Outreach Officer, National Museum of Ireland – Country Life). A large appreciative crowd of family and friends gathered to join in the celebrations.

My Clinical Life
Mayo Artist Katie Moore created an exhibition of art work inspired by her experience as an artist with a long term illness. Katie has spent a lot of time in hospital and uses her feelings and memories as subject areas for her work. The exhibition, My Clinical Life was launched at Mayo University Hospital last Friday afternoon.

Sunday 11th December:

Art Book
Carrowbeg enterprises, Custom House Studios & poet Mary C Reilly
Carrowbeg Enterprises, Westport are currently participating on a series of workshops facilitated by artists John Mc Hugh, Grainne O Reilly with guest poet Mary C Reilly at the Custom House Studios, Westport. The participants will then create an edition of art books using their own words and language as elements within a poetic verse. Participants will display their work during the annual end of year winter exhibition at the Custom House Studios on Sunday 11th December at 3.00 p.m.
For further information contact John McHugh on 098 28735 / customhouse@eircom.net
January 2017 (tbc)

The Hawthorn Social Housing Group, (Swinford), Mayo Artsquad and Lismirrane Arts Centre (Bohola)
For the first time, eight members of the Hawthorn Social Housing Group based at the newly-opened Social Model Houses at Áras Attracta, Swinford are taking part in a series of introductory visual arts workshops facilitated by Mayo Artsquad at Lismirrane Arts Centre, Bohola. The project will culminate in the creation of a piece of visual art which will be exhibited early in the New Year.

For further information on Mayo County Council’s Arts & Disability Programme or UPSTART please contact: Damien O’Connor, Disability Arts Co-ordinator at Mayo Arts Office on 094 904 7551 or mayoarts@mayococo.ie