Arts and Disability Connect funding
Arts and Disability Connect includes Mentoring, Training, New Work, and Research and Reflection awards for individual artists with disabilities.
Arts and Disability Connect Round One
Opens: Tuesday 19 March
Closes: Tuesday 7 May, 4pm
Arts and Disability Connect Round Two
Opens: Monday 12 August
Closes: Tuesday 8 October, 4pm
The Arts and Disability Connect scheme is designed to support artists with disabilities to be ambitious, to develop their practice and to connect with arts organisations and arts professionals in the Republic of Ireland.
Application forms, guidelines and other resources can be found below. If you have questions about the scheme, please email connect@adiarts.ie.
Information sessions
Click here to listen to previous information sessions on SoundCloud, including interviews with previous awarded artists for Training, Mentoring, Research and Reflection and New Work awards. Click here to watch previous information sessions on YouTube.
One-on-one Applicant Support Round One 2024
Artists and people supporting them to apply for Arts and Disability Connect funding can book in applicant support up until Friday 3 May.
We recommend that you read the guidelines of the award you are applying for before attending the meeting.
If you would like us to review a draft application, please send it at least two days in advance to connect@adiarts.ie
You can have up to 1 hour of support either on the phone, Zoom or by email.
During this time, we can review a draft application, answer any queries, and give feedback.
Please book here.
Come Ask Questions Round One 2024
Join the ADI team and ask any questions you have about making an application to the Arts and Disability Connect scheme on Tuesday 9 April 12-1pm. For one hour we’ll chat about your application ideas and answer questions you have about the awards.
The Arts and Disability Connect information sessions are for artists with disabilities who are applying for funding and for people who are supporting them to apply.
Speech to text will be provided by MyClearText.
ISL will be provided by Bridge Interpreting.
Booking available here.
Descriptions of awards
If you click on ‘Previous Awardees’ below you can see a full list of artists with disabilities who have been awarded funding through the Arts and Disability Connect scheme from 2014-2023. Click on the artists names to read a short description of what they were awarded funding for.
Further information
For updates about Arts and Disability Connect, please see Arts & Disability Ireland on Facebook, Instagram or X / Twitter or subscribe to our newsletter here.
The Arts and Disability Connect scheme is funded by the Arts Council and managed by Arts & Disability Ireland.
About Arts and About Arts and Disability Connect scheme 2024
New Work Application Form R1 2024
Research and Reflection Application Form R1 2024
Research and Reflection Guidelines R1 2024
Mentoring Application Form R1 2024
Training Application Form R1 2024
My advice for any present or future recipients of Arts and Disability Connect - Think big, go out of your comfort zone and the rewards will be in reach.
Mairéad Folan, Director NoRopes Theatre Company, 2019. Photo: Sean O Mainnin
Previous Awardees
AlanJames Burns received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2021. AlanJames is a visual artist based in Dublin.
In partnership with Carlow Arts Festival, AlanJames will create a new work called Augmented Body, Altered Mind for their 2022 festival. This ambitious piece will explore what it means to be an individual living within everyday systems. The 17 minute experience will weave a brain-computer interface (BCI) with a Virtual Reality environment.
Rosaleen McDonagh received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2021. Rosaleen is a Dublin based writer and theatre artist.
In partnership with Project Arts Centre, Rosaleen will present a film installation of Contentious Spaces in the Gallery in 2021. Two characters, Bella and Michael get trapped in a disabled toilet. Over the course of twenty minutes they argue, discover and discuss everything from their own personal histories, disability rights, transgender rights, isolation, sex, love, clubbing and more.
Diane Crotty received an Arts and Disability Connect Research & Development award in 2021.
Diane Crotty is a theatre maker based in Dublin. With the support of Graffiti Theatre Company, Diane will write and workshop a new script for young audiences about a 14 year old girl Abigail Hobbes who was accused of witchcraft at the Salem witch trials 1692.
Leon O’Connor received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2021.
Leon is a film artist and animator based in Limerick. Leon will work with mentor Jason Tammemagi Creative Producer at Cartoon Saloon. They will focus on pre-production stages of animation while Leon begins to develop a new animated short film.
Maureen McGovern received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2021.
Maureen is a Dublin based theatre artist. Maureen will work with dramaturg Pamela McQueen to research autobiographical theatre performances and get support while she develops a new script.
Maureen Portsmouth received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2021.
Maureen is a writer and theatre artist based in Dublin. Maureen will work with writer and dance artist Lani O’Hanlon as she works towards writing for publication through her work with the body and voice.
Paul Howell received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2021.
Paul is a Dublin based visual artist. Paul will work with printmaker Colin Martin with support from the Black Church Print Studio. Together they will work on Paul’s professional development including working towards exhibition and researching print processes and techniques.
Sarah Keenan received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2021.
Sarah is a Galway based visual artist who will work with curator and visual artist Moran Been-noon. They will discuss next steps for career progression, the direction of Sarah’s studio practice at this pivotal moment and how to make meaningful professional connections within the visual arts in Ireland.
Tadhg Kinsella received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2021.
Tadhg is a visual artist based in Dublin. Tadhg will work with Mella Travers, CEO of The Darkroom. Through mentoring sessions they will explore options for professional development, networking and explore a range of technical processes.
Joan Jordan received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2021.
Joan is a Louth based visual artist. Joan will complete a programme of one to one stained glass training with Alison Byrne of WildBird Studio.
Lindsey Power received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2021.
Lindsey is a visual artist based in Clare. Lindsey will attend a week long workshop Painting in the Burren Landscape with Trevor Geoghegan at Burren College of Art.
Olivia Shiel received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2021.
Olivia is a Louth based visual artist. Olivia has created a series of one to one workshops with visual artist Susan Farrelly at Abbey Studios and filmmaker JJ Harrington.
Anna Czarska received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2020.
Anna is a filmmaker based in Kildare. In partnership with Sticky Tape Productions and with the support of Underground Cinema, Anna will develop and create a short film called Mildly Different. This will be screened at Underground Cinema Film Festival in winter 2021.
Ciara Chapman received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2020.
Ciara is a Cork-based visual artist. In partnership with Cork Printmakers, Ciara will create a publication, exhibition and art trail during summer and autumn 2021 called My Chronic Pain Diary.
Darren Donohue received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2020.
Darren is a theatre maker based in Kilkenny. In partnership with the Science Gallery, Darren will develop a new play which will be performed in July 2021. This work will explore the relationship between people with chronic illness and technology.
Trudie Gorman received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2020.
Trudie is a Dublin-based writer. In partnership with Poetry Ireland and with the support of Axis: Ballymun, Trudie will develop a collection of poetry and curate an event in December 2021 featuring her work and the work of other poets with disabilities who are also from working class backgrounds.
Brigid O’Dea received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2020.
Brigid is writer based in Dublin who will work with writer Patrick Freyne while she navigates moving away from the ‘person-centred’ column format to find a multi-faceted writing identity that reaches beyond writing about disability.
Doreena Jennings received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2020.
Doreena is a Carlow-based writer who will work with poet Jessica Traynor as she shapes her first poetry collection and explores publication possibilities.
Emily Gillmor Murphy received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2020.
Emily is a theatre maker based in Wicklow who will work with Dramaturg Pamela McQueen while she researches and incorporates site-specific immersive theatre into her practice. Emily will receive meeting space in-kind from Mermaid Arts Centre during her mentoring process.
Letizia Lopreiato received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2020.
Letizia is a Dublin-based visual artist and writer who will work with The Darkroom Director Mella Travers while she develops a new body of work and explores using the Super 8 film format.
Niki Collier received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2020.
Niki is a visual artist based in Dublin who will work with theatre maker Aisling Byrne and visual artist Liz Nilson while she develops her collaborative practice working with communities.
Allison McKay received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2020.
Allison is a Dublin-based theatre maker. Allison has created a tailor made training programme with Kathleen Warner Yeates to support her to adapt her practice and continue to create work.
Christian Wethered received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2020.
Christian is a writer based in Dublin. Christian will avail of online training through The Limerick Writers’ Centre with writer Ciaran O’Driscoll.
Soirse Burns received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2020.
Soirse is a Dublin-based theatre maker. Soirse will work with dancer Emma O’Kane to develop her movement-driven practice and to build her confidence engaging professional dancers in her work.
Emilie Conway received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2018 and 2019. Emilie also received a New Work award in 2020.
Emilie is a jazz singer, composer and lyricist based in Dublin who will work with percussionist Thomas Duffy to gain a deeper understanding of Brazilian and Afro-Brazilian rhythms in 2019.
In 2018 Emilie attended the Blas programme at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in the University of Limerick. In particular she wanted to train with Gearóidín Breathnach and Karan Casey to bring elements of Irish traditional song, storytelling and Sean-Nós into her professional practice.
In partnership with the Improvised Music Company (IMC) and with the support of Darn Skippy Productions and Dublin City Council Culture Company, Emilie will develop, compose, write and perform a new jazz and theatre performance based on her experiences as an artist with a visual impairment.
John Kelly received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2020.
John is a Wicklow based filmmaker and founder of Clap ‘n Load Studios. In partnership with The Whale Theatre John will develop and produce a science fiction short film. This short film will be screened at The Whale Theatre towards the end of March 2021.
Vukašin Nedeljković received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2018 and 2020.
Vukašin is a visual artist based in Dublin. Vukašin received a New Work award to present new photographic work documenting Direct Provision Centres in Ireland. Vukašin presented a photographic and sound installation which critically foregrounded accounts of exile, displacement, trauma, memory and marginalisation under the Direct Provision scheme. The exhibition Asylum Archive: an Archive of Asylum and Direct Provision in Ireland was programmed in partnership with Basic Space during Refugee Week 2018.
In partnership with the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) and with the support of the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI), Vukašin will develop a new body of photography documenting Emergency Accommodation Centres in Ireland. This new work will be exhibited in the RHA Ashford Gallery in early 2021.
Ailbhe Barrett received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2020.
Ailbhe is a Cork based visual artist and Crawford Supported Studio member who will work with visual artist Kevin Mooney while she works towards including animation in her practice.
www.mayfieldarts.ie/AilbheBarrett
David Joyce received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2018 and 2020.
David is a Galway based playwright. He worked with mentor Eileen Gibbons to stage rehearsed readings of his scripts and to develop his writing in 2019.
In 2020 David will work with dramaturg Pamela McQueen while he develops a new script.
Karen Breen received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2020.
Karen is a Galway musician and member of Electric Dreams who will work with composer and musician Anna Mullarkey while she begins to create her own compositions.
Mairéad Folan received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2018 and Mentoring awards in 2017 and 2020.
Through a mentoring award in 2017, Mairéad worked with producer Niamh Ní Chonchubhair. Mairéad and Niamh examined the role of creative theatre producer and how that informs Mairéad’s artistic practice as a director.
Mairéad Folan has been awarded a New Work award to present WAKE at Town Hall Theatre, Galway – a retelling of the Little Mermaid, developed in conjunction with award-winning Young Adult Fiction author Deirdre Sullivan. Voicelessness is at the heart of the Little Mermaid and WAKE explores the unspoken, and the various forms in which we tell our stories.
Mairéad is a Galway theatre director. She holds an MA in Drama and Theatre Studies from NUIG, MLitt from NUIG which researched the development of Irish Language Theatre in the West of Ireland 2003-2013, a Diploma in Acting from London College of Music, trained with the Garvey School of Speech and Drama and Galway Youth Theatre. She founded NoRopes, whose aim is to challenge societal boundaries through the presentation of innovative and little-known dramatic works. Previous productions include The Open Couple by Dario Fo and Franca Rame and the Irish premiere of WASTED by Kate Tempest. She is currently touring her debut play Meet Luke around Galway and the tour will finish in Dublin in November. Mairéad was recently appointed onto the national Irish language theatre, Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe's Board of Directors.’
Through a Mentoring award in 2020 Mairéad will work with theatre maker Little John Nee while she develops a new script.
Martin Sharry received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2020.
Martin, a theatre maker and writer based in Dublin will work with writer Jessica Traynor as he transitions from theatre to poetry and develops new work towards publishing his first poetry collection.
Suzanne Walsh, received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2020.
Suzanne is an audio/visual artist and writer from Wexford currently based in Dublin. She uses performative lectures, audio performances, and text to explore various themes, often around the relationships between animal/humans, ecology and evolution as well as querying the borders of the self. She also collaborates with filmmakers, musicians and other artists frequently, drawing on previous acting and musical experience. Recent performances in Eight Gallery, IMMA and DLR Lexicon (with Hissen sound group), New Lacanian School Congress, The International Literature Festival, and Art and Ethics Symposium at the Burren College of Art. She also recently completed a writing commission for Resort Revelations residency for Fingal County Council and a residency at Fire Station Artists' Studios.
Through a Mentoring award in 2020 Suzanne will work with writer Christodoulos Makris while she focuses on her poetry practice and explores publication possibilities.
Áine O'Hara received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2020.
Áine is a Dublin based theatre designer. To support Áine to transition from working in theatre to film she will attend Annie Atkins’ two-day workshop on Graphic Design for Filmmaking.
Ayelet Lalor received an Arts and Disability Connect Training Award in 2020.
Ayelet is a visual artist based in Dublin will avail of the Open Access programme at Graphic Studio Dublin to develop and improve her printmaking skills.
Cecilia Bullo received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2020.
Cecilia who is a Dublin based visual artist, will attend Fire Station Artists’ Studios two-day Welding Fabrication workshop delivered by Mick O’Hara.
Conor Rennick received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2020.
Conor who is a writer based in Dublin will work with writer Yvonne Cullen through bespoke one-on-one writers’ training as he completes a first draft of a new novel.
Mary Crossin received Arts and Disability Connect Training awards in 2019 and 2020.
Mary is a harp player based in Co Donegal who worked with Irish harp performer, composer and teacher Dr Janet Harbison to expand her repertoire and ability to compose and arrange music for recording in 2019.
Through her Training award in 2020 Mary will attend a weeklong harp workshop delivered by Irish harp performer, composer and teacher Dr Janet Harbison.
Trina (Tia) Vellani received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2019 and a Training award in 2017.
Tia is a musician and visual artist based in Kilkenny. In partnership with the Alternative Kilkenny Arts Fringe, Tia will create a new work called ‘What is the Sound of One Heart Dancing?’, a dance, music and visual art installation that will take place at the Auxiliary Hospital Kilkenny.
In 2017 Tia worked with painter Eamon Coleman on a series of specially devised workshops.
Roderick Ford received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2015, an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2016 and an Arts and Disability connect Training award in 2018.
Roderick is a poet and playwright based in Dublin. His work explores themes of otherness and othering, of voicelessness and estrangement. His work is populated by outsider figures and hybrids on the borderlines between worlds. He works in non-realistic modes.
He has won many shortlistings, commendations and prizes for his poetry, both in Ireland and the UK. Some of his poems have been set to music by composer Judith Ring. Two of his plays were given public readings in Paris, and two in Dublin.
In 2018 Roderick continued his transition from poetry to playwriting with the support of a series of dramaturgical masterclasses with Pamela McQueen at The New Theatre in Dublin.
Through a New Work award in 2016 Roderick developed a new script called Ob Gob with support from dramaturg and director Sarah Baxter, Project Arts Centre and Rough Magic Theatre Company. A rehearsed reading of Ob Gob took place in the Abbey Theatre (Peacock Stage).
In 2015 Roderick worked with mentor Sophie Motley, Director of Willfredd Theatre Company to develop a theatre script called The Spider’s House with Sophie’s dramaturgical support.
Yvonne Condon received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2019.
Yvonne is a Cork based visual artist and Crawford Supported Studio member. In partnership with the Crawford Art Gallery and with the support of Cork City Council, Yvonne will create a large scale public artwork, potentially in the Port of Cork.
Brianna Hurley received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2019.
Brianna is a Kilkenny based visual artist and KCAT Studio member who will work with architect Neasa Hourigan to explore how traditional stone buildings and contemporary architecture can inform her visual art and architecture practice.
Corina Duyn received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2019.
Corina is a puppeteer, designer and playwright based in Waterford will work with theatre maker, puppeteer and set designer Emma Fisher to develop her process of creating stories, her puppetry practice and devise accessible ways to operate puppets.
Philip Kenny received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2019.
Philip is a Dublin based writer and spoken word poet who will work with writer Arnold Thomas Fanning to expand his practice and get critical feedback while he works towards creating a new body of work.
Sahaja Budzilla received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2019.
Sahaja is a visual artist based in Co Limerick will work with visual artist Brian Maguire to forge connections with other artists in Ireland and transition to making large scale public sculptures.
Tom O'Sullivan received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2019.
Tom is a Cork based visual artist and Crawford Supported Studio member who will work with visual artist Tom Climent to experience other artist studios and develop his painting practice.
Elizabeth McCormack received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2017 and 2019.
Elizabeth is a Galway based musician will work with vocal coach Michel Durham to build her confidence towards recording material with her band Electric Dreams.
Íde Ní Shúilleabháin received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2019.
Íde is a Cork based visual artist and Crawford Supported Studio member will attend silkscreen and etching workshops at Cork Printmakers.
Karol Mac Gairbheith received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2019.
Karol is a visual artist based in Letterkenny based who will attend a life drawing course at the RHA and a drawing workshop at the Burren College of Art.
Stephen Garland received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2019.
Stephen is a playwright and performer based in Longford will attend a Creative Writing for Publication course at NUI Maynooth.
Tiernan Jones received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2019.
Tiernan is a Carlow based musician who will work with composer, performer, songwriter, arranger, producer and teacher Carole Nelson to prepare for Grade 8 clarinet exams and develop his skills as a composer.
Maureen Portsmouth (Mo Harte) received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2018.
Mo is a performance artist and audio describer based in Dublin. She worked with her mentor Amanda Coogan to explore methods of accessing kinetic wisdom and endurance through embodied arts practice.
Dr. Noel O’Connell received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2018.
Noel is a playwright based in Limerick. He worked with mentors Dr. Marie Kelly and Fionn Woodhouse at University College Cork to develop an ethnodrama called Passing as Normal. It tells real-life stories of deaf peoples’ experiences of marginalisation.
Ruth Larkin received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2018.
Ruth is a visual artist from Dublin. She worked with her mentor Ann Lawlor to explore the themes of time, cycles and science as well as Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man concept in a Science-Art context.
www.instagram.com/ruthlarkin13
Ruth sadly passed away before Vitruvian Man was complete, however the work was shown in Temple Bar Gallery + Studios in October 2019 in celebration of Ruth's life and work
Sean Hillen received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2018.
Sean is a visual artist based in Dublin. He worked with Tanya Kiang of the Gallery of Photography to develop his set of curatorial and networking skills to apply to editing and mounting exhibitions, and perhaps a publication of his ambitious and well-known works.
Suzie McCormack received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2018.
Suzie is a visual artist based in Dublin. She worked with mentor Maeve Mulrennan from Galway Arts Centre to develop her journaling, curating and portfolio development to progress and expand her studio practice.
Thomas Martin received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2018.
Thomas is a writer and visual artist from Wexford. He worked with mentor Sylvia Cullen to develop his writing practice through an exploration of non-rhyming poetry, blank verse and a satirical approach to short story writing in a current affairs context.
Caroline Naughton received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2018.
Caroline is a visual artist based in Roscommon. She worked with visual artist Danika Casey to develop painting and paper-making techniques to compliment her practice.
Mohetia Furniss received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2018.
Mohetia is a visual artist based in Leitrim. She has devised a series of training courses with sound artist Cathal Roche, soprano Eunjoo Goh, and jazz vocalist Lauren Kinsella to support her work towards a creating multimedia installations.
Áine Stapleton received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2017.
Áine is a dance artist based in Dublin. She developed a new dance piece called Horrible Creature in partnership with Dance Ireland and The James Joyce Centre in Dublin. Horrible Creature explores 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. A work-in-progress sharing of Horrible Creature took place at Dance Ireland.
Katie Moore received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2017.
Katie is a visual artists from Mayo. She created an installation called Entropy in partnership with the Linenhall Arts Centre. Compelled by a conversation Katie had with historian Catherine Corless, she visited the site of the Mother and Baby Home in Tuam. She observed the weeds that now grow at the site, and from there started to look at flowers – the delicate blossoms of Gypsophila to be exact, a flower also known as Baby’s Breath. The resulting work Entropy was an installation made from Baby’s Breath at Linenhall Arts Centre.
Brid Heffernan received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2017.
Brid is a visual artist and was a member of the Cúig studios at Mayfield Arts Centre in Cork. Brid worked with visual and textile artist Valentina Gambardella. Together they will explored Brid’s love of fashion and textiles towards making wearable art with a Lady Gaga wow factor.
Jim Rohan received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2017.
Jim is a theatre practitioner and member of Equinox Theatre Company based in Kilkenny. Jim was 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 delved into the world of theatre, dance and GAA as Jim Rohan devised a new theatre piece with collaborator Gary Comerford called The Waterboys: Jim and Gary have a double life.
Nickie Hayden received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2017.
Nickie is a visual artist based in Dublin. She was mentored by Niamh O’Donnell Director of Mermaid Arts Centre. With support from Niamh, Nickie began to expand her practice to work collaboratively with people who have invisible disabilities through the Dyslexia Association of Ireland.
Elizabeth McCormack received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2017 and 2019.
Elizabeth is a Galway based musician will work with vocal coach Michel Durham to build her confidence towards recording material with her band Electric Dreams.
Mary Hunt received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2017.
Mary is a writer based in Westmeath. Mary attended a weekend long residential writing course facilitated by Yvonne Cullen on Inishbofin.
Eoin O’Malley received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2017 and an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2016.
Eoin O’Malley is a Wicklow based artist who has been developing his practice since 2008 working alongside facilitator Orla Callaghan. Eoin uses his mouth to hold his brushes and paints mainly in acrylic on canvas. He also creates drawings using pencil, brush marker and ink and has experimented with using his wheelchair to create large scale floor drawings.
Myra Denise Kavanagh received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2017.
Myra is a visual artist based in Cork. Myra attended a hand-building ceramics course facilitated by Karen Morgan at Grennan Mill Crafts School.
Mary Duffy received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2016.
Mary is a visual artist based in Wicklow. Through her New Work award Mary explored transitioning from working outdoors to inside in the studio. She chose to work with painter Donald Teskey to mentor her through this transition. In partnership with the Mermaid Arts they presented an artists’ talk about their work and this mentoring process as part of the YARN storytelling festival.
Brian McSweeney received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2016.
Brian is a dancer and member of Traces Dance Ensemble based in Waterford. Brian worked with mentor Deirdre Grant to develop his choreography skills. Garter Lane provided space for Brian to use during their mentoring process.
Jen Grangel received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2016.
Jen is a visual artist based in Wexford. Jen worked with mentor Aideen Barry to complete a series of studio visits and critiques on her practice.
Paul Howell received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2016.
Paul is a visual artist based in Dublin. In collaboration with Black Church Print Studios Paul designed a series of etching workshops and access to print making facilities to practice what had been learned at his own pace.
Danny Aherne received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2015 and an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2014.
Danny is a dancer and member of Spoken Dance an integrated dance company based in Limerick. Danny developed a new piece of dance film called Entangled with support from dance practitioner Mary Wycherley and Dance Limerick.
In 2014 Danny worked with mentor Mary Wycherley to explore dance film and how this could be incorporated in to his artistic practice.
Ruth Le Gear received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2015. Ruth was also awarded the Arts & Disability Ireland and Fire Station Artists' Studios, Studio Award for an artist with a disability in 2011.
Ruth is a visual artist based in Sligo. In partnership with The Model and Leitrim Sculpture Centre Ruth developed a new body of work called Water Senses. This project included the development of an exhibition at The Model and an accompanying printed publication. Ruth was supported through this New Work award with mentoring from the Model and studio support through the Leitrim Sculpture Centre.
As a hybrid artist, Ruth Le Gear's practice mediates between nature, water remedy intervention, and environmental art. Her practice emerges from collaborations and fieldwork projects which examine the qualities of water and the memories held within. Le Gear works with various water bodies including Arctic icebergs, the Baltic Sea and Irish lakes and waterfalls. Her practice finds form in moving image, the still image, sound, and installation.
Group shows include; Et Si On S'etati Trompe at the Centre Cultural Irlandais Paris (2015) Contemporary Art at Tell in the University of St. Gallen Switzerland (2014), Eight Gallery Dublin (2014), Crystalline at the Millennium Court Arts Centre Portadown (2012) and Eva International Limerick (2008).
Residencies include; Land Arts of the American West and Santa Fe Art Institute in New Mexico (2016), The Łaźnia Centre for Contemporary Art in Gdańsk (2014), Leitrim Sculpture Centre (2013), Arctic Circle (2012), Fire Station Artists’ Studios Dublin (2011), Iceland (SIM, 2012/09), Cill Rialig, (2011), Tyrone Guthrie (2010), and Limerick City Gallery of Art (2008).
James O’Connell received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2015.
James is a dancer and member of Speckled Egg Dance Company based in Galway. James was mentored by dance practitioner Rachel Parry to develop James’s choreography.
Mary Ryan received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2015.
Mary is a visual artist based in Galway. Mary was mentored by Maeve Mulrennan from Galway Arts Centre. Together they developed an area of Mary’s practice towards exhibition. They also focused on documentation of Mary’s work to support her making applications for other funding and exhibition opportunities.
Niamh O’Doherty received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2015.
Niamh is a visual artist based in Mayo. Niamh worked with mentor Niamh O’Malley to critically reflect upon her artistic practice while she was developing a new body of work called Reflections on Time.
Stephen Kennedy received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2015 and he was commissioned as part of our Curated Space series in 2014.
Stephen is a playwright based in Dublin. Stephen worked with mentor Gavin Kostic from Fishamble: The New Play Company to develop a new script The Blind and the Half Blind.
His poetry has been published in the Irish Times, The Stinging Fly, Books Ireland, Sunday Tribune, and many other publications – including two recent collections – If Ever You Go: A Map of Dublin in Poetry and Song and New Planet Cabaret. Stephen has been nominated for the RTE PJ O’Connor Radio Play Awards and shortlisted for the Hennessy XO Literary Awards. His stage plays have been performed in Ireland, England, Scotland, Germany and the US. Stephen is also Director of the Dublin Beatles Festival and the founder and organiser of Nighthawks.
Damien O'Connor received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2016 and an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2015.
Damien is a theatre practitioner based in Mayo. Damien worked with mentor Christian O’Reilly to write and develop a new script called Right Cross. With Christian’s support Damien worked with a group of actors to workshop a script for the first time.
In 2015 to re-establish his practice Damien attended a weekend Playwriting Course by Fishamble: The New Play Company. Facilitators included Artistic Director Jim Culleton and Literary Manager Gavin Kostic.
Róisín Power Hackett received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award 2015.
Róisín is a visual artist and curator who is based in Waterford. Róisín attended a series of printmaking workshops with Damn Fine Print and Black Church Print Studios.
Conor Madden received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2014.
Conor is a theatre practitioner based in Clare. Conor developed a new script called Broke with the support of mentor Mark O’Halloran. A rehearsed reading took place on the Peacock Stage of the Abbey Theatre.
Darragh O'Callaghan received an Arts and Disability Connect New Work award in 2014.
Darragh is a visual artist based in Monaghan. Darragh created a short film and installation of film and photographic work called Interiors. These works explored personal landscapes of isolation and anxiety that characterise living with mental health issues. This project was made in partnership with the Cork Film Centre.
Mary Nugent received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2014.
Mary is a dancer and member of Croí Glan an integrated dance company based in Cork. Mary worked with trained ballet dancer, Dawn Mulloy to further develop her dance skills.
Orla Burke received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2014.
Orla is a playwright based in Cork. Orla worked with mentor Kaite O’Reilly to develop a new script.
Sighile Hennessy received an Arts and Disability Connect Mentoring award in 2014.
Sighile is a theatre practitioner and member of Equinox Theatre Company based in Kilkenny. Sighile worked with Susie Lamb on developing movement within her theatre practice.
Niall Stokes received an Arts and Disability Connect Training award in 2014.
Niall is a musician based in Dublin. Niall developed a tailored training programme with Jazz pianist Greg Llyod from Newpark Music Centre.