Gemma Gallagher/Shadowbox, 'Somethings', 2017 at Mermaid Arts Centre. Photo: Gemma Gallagher
The Arts Council uses the term arts and disability to cover how people with disabilities participate in the arts and how the mainstream arts sector gives consideration to people with disabilities in all aspects of its work. The term encompasses a range of arts practices and activities involving people with disabilities as artists, participants, arts workers, and audience members. It embraces a wide range of contexts including disability arts, Deaf arts, disability-led practice, collaborative practice, access services, and advocacy.
In 2012, the Arts Council published an updated policy and five year strategy Arts and Disability (2012 - 2016). It was developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders and it is envisaged that the Arts Council will work in partnership with the sector in its implementation.
The policy is built on a number of key values including:
- Equality - a commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities can engage fully in the artistic and cultural life of Ireland at all levels in line with Article 30 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
- The Social Model of Disability - a recognition that access must be considered at the earliest planning stages so that barriers to participation are not created or further perpetuated.
- Complexity and diversity of people and practices - an understanding that the sector is made up of artists, participants and audiences of all ages with physical, sensory, intellectual and mental health impairments as well as a wide range of people working professionally and voluntarily in the arts and disability sectors. The Arts Council is committed to the provision of support for an evolving range of artistically ambitious practices.
- Holistic approach - a commitment to the mainstreaming of access and participation in parallel with the provision of strategic targeted supports and a process of capacity building.
- Inclusion - a commitment to Arts and Disability as part of the larger commitment to social inclusion.
Funding
The Arts Council offers a wide range of financial supports
across all artforms and arts practices. They include, among others, the bursary award, project award,
the Artist in the Community Scheme, and the Arts & Disability Connect Scheme.
For more information go to the Available Funding page where you will find a full list of funding opportunities and award information.
On our Funding Pathways page you will find lots of information and tips on what you need to know about applications and funding.
Arts and disability resources
The arts and disability resource pack - Shift in Perspective (PDF, 1.43 MB) - is the result of a partnership between the Arts Council, Arts & Disability Ireland (ADI), Mayo County Council, the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) and South Tipperary County Council. It grew out of the partner organisations' work to develop innovative approaches in high quality contemporary arts and disability practice, and to make arts venues more accessible to artists and audiences with disabilities.
Arts & Disability Ireland (ADI) is the national development and resource organisation for arts and disability and is funded by the Arts Council. As well as managing the Arts & Disability Connect scheme on behalf of the Arts Council, they provide support to arts and culture organisations in adopting an inclusive approach to audience development. They also provide a range of access services including audio description for performance and visual art, captioning for performance, equipment hire, website user testing and arts focused Disability Equality Training. To find out more go to https://adiarts.ie/