Arts and Disability

Artform News

17th December
Research examines barriers to disabled people's participation in and access to the Arts in Northern Ireland

10th December 2007
Arts Sector rally to Save the Arts

3rd December
All Ireland Arts and Disability website launched

In Northern Ireland, 20% of people are disabled. This figure is higher than the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. Disabled people are still the most marginalised in our society and still have limited opportunities to be involved in the arts.

The Arts Council has made a substantial investment over a number of years, creating new opportunities for disabled people to be involved in the arts on their own terms. Our approach is based on the social model of disability and we place our emphasis on tackling barriers to equality.

The Arts Council works in partnership with and takes advice from disabled people. Whilst the Arts Council primarily connects with Arts & Disability practice, we also recognise and value Disability Arts.

• Arts & Disability covers a broad range of inclusive arts practice involving disabled people as artists, participants and audience members.

• Disability Arts is a specific form of arts practice where disabled artists create work that reflects their identity and experience as disabled people.

Publications and Information

Artform Policy Document (PDF)

Artsanddisability.com
This first all-Ireland Arts and Disability website contains information, resources and facts that will be of practical use to anyone with and interest in arts and disability in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Barriers to Disabled People's Participation In and Access to the Arts in Northern Ireland

Current initiatives

• The Arts Council participates in advisory panels to government agencies and offers a range of specialist advice across the Arts & Disability sector, including advice to clients from mainstream organisations.

• We fund the core costs for several Arts & Disability organisations, for example the Arts & Disability Forum.

• We fund a wide range of arts & disability projects through Arts Council lottery schemes.

• We fund work that helps arts venues improve disability access, for example, we ran a three-year Accessibility Fund for arts venue adaptations.

• We operate a ‘Premium Payments’ scheme to encourage enhanced disability access

• We support the Arts & Disability Equality Charter, a ‘kite-marking’ project developed by disabled people to encourage and reward good practice amongst arts venues.

• We have commissioned extensive research into barriers to disabled people’s involvement in the arts. This will provide a baseline to measure progress over subsequent years.

• Along with An Chomhairle Ealaíon, we fund two North/South collaboration projects: the award-winning Arts & Disability Awards Ireland grant scheme, for individual disabled artists; and the Arts & Disability Directory

Contact Us

Further information on any of the Council’s funding programmes and/or its strategic interests in Arts & Disability may be obtained from:

Chris Ledger
Arts Development Officer
(Arts & Disability, Arts & Health, Voluntary Arts)
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
MacNeice House
77 Malone Road
Belfast. BT9 6AQ
Tel: 028 9038 5213
Email: cledger@artscouncil-ni.org

Relevant Links

Arts & Disability Forum

Arts & Disability Directory