Arts Council and Arts & Disability Ireland announce Arts and Disability Connect recipients 2017

Dancer Áine Stapleton and visual artist Katie Moore have been awarded New Work awards.

Áine Stapleton will use the award to develop a new dance piece called ‘13 Lines’ in partnership with Dance Ireland and The James Joyce Centre in Dublin. ‘13 Lines’ which is a working title, will explore the life of Lucia Joyce between the 1920s and 1950s. Lucia, a professional dancer, was the daughter of Irish writer James Joyce. In the 1930’s she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was institutionalised in psychiatric hospitals until her death in 1982.

Katie Moore has been awarded a New Work award to create a new visual art installation in partnership with the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar. Katie uses textiles, scale and sound to create delicate and thought provoking installations. It is Katie’s hope that this new piece will acknowledge the infants and children discovered at the St Mary’s Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Co. Galway.

Four artists received Mentoring awards:

Brid Heffernan, a visual artist and member of the Cúig studios at Mayfield Arts Centre in Cork, will work with visual and textile artist Valentina Gambardella. Together they will explore Brid’s love of fashion and textiles towards making wearable art with a Lady Gaga wow factor.

Jim Rohan, an actor and member of Equinox Theatre Company in Kilkenny, will be mentored by dancer Cindy Cummings. As well as being an actor Jim is an avid GAA fan and supports Carrickshock GAA club at training and on the side lines at matches. Jim and Cindy will delve into the world of theatre, dance and GAA as Jim Rohan devises a new theatre piece with collaborator Gary Comerford called ‘The Waterboys: Jim and Gary have a double life’.

Mairéad Folan, a Galway based theatre director and Director of NoRopes Theatre Company, will be mentored by producer Niamh Ní Chonchubhair. Mairéad and Niamh’s focus will be to examine the role of creative theatre producer and how that can inform Mairéad’s artistic practice as a director.

Nickie Hayden, a Dublin based visual artist will be mentored by Director of Mermaid Arts Centre Niamh O’Donnell. With support from Niamh, Nickie will begin to expand her practice to work collaboratively with people who have invisible disabilities through the Dyslexia Association of Ireland.

Five artists were awarded Training awards:

Elizabeth McCormack, a singer and performer with Electric Dreams based in Galway will avail of vocal training from vocal coach Michel Durham over one year.

Eoin O’Malley, a visual artist based in Wicklow will train with Paul Bokslag a tutor and facilitator at KCAT Art and Study Centre. They have developed a tailor made training programme for Eoin to learn Tobii eye tracking technology to support his art practice.

Mary Hunt, a writer based in Westmeath will attend a weekend long residential writing course facilitated by Yvonne Cullen on Inishbofin.

Myra Denise Kavanagh, a visual artist based in Cork will attend a hand-building ceramics course facilitated by Karen Morgan at Grennan Mill Crafts School.

Tia Vellani, a visual artist based in Kilkenny will work with painter Eamon Coleman on a series of specially devised workshops.

Pádraig Naughton, Executive Director, Arts & Disability Ireland says, “All of these eleven artists are striving to move forward in their careers and in their professional practice. Through the Arts and Disability Connect scheme they will acquire new techniques, explore new approaches, develop partnerships and make new work. With the support of this scheme all of these artists are on an ambitious and innovative journey.”

The ADC scheme is funded by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and managed by Arts & Disability Ireland. It offers artists the opportunity to connect with other practitioners or venues, make a change in their practice, ‘step up’ in terms of scope and scale, reach new audiences and to engage in mentoring and training. It has been created in response to the changing needs of the sector in the Republic of Ireland and in line with Arts Council commitments outlined in its “Arts and Disability Policy 2012 – 2016”.