Ballymena artist gets funds for new art work

Ballymena artist Sharon Adams has been awarded £2,000 to create new work as part of the d/Deaf and Disabled Artists Support Fund 2020/21.
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She has been commissioned to create a series of five steel sculptures and this work will go on exhibition and long term loan to special educational needs sector schools, libraries and other public venues.

Sharon is one of 44 d/Deaf and disabled artists have been awarded £94,000 in funding to create new work and support them through the Covid-19 crisis.

The University of Atypical, on behalf of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Department for Communities, has awarded the grants from the d/Deaf and Disabled Artists Support Fund 2020/21 at a time when artists’ potential to generate income has been seriously impacted by the closure of art galleries, theatres, music venues and other creative outlets.

Sharon Adams from Ballymena who was awarded a grant of £2,000 to create new work as part of the d/Deaf and Disabled Artists Support Fund 2020/21.Sharon Adams from Ballymena who was awarded a grant of £2,000 to create new work as part of the d/Deaf and Disabled Artists Support Fund 2020/21.
Sharon Adams from Ballymena who was awarded a grant of £2,000 to create new work as part of the d/Deaf and Disabled Artists Support Fund 2020/21.

Department for Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey, said “Our local arts sector is so important in terms of the contribution it makes socially, creatively and economically to the lives of individuals, communities and wider society. I am therefore delighted that this funding has been awarded which will provide our local d/Deaf and disabled artists with much needed financial assistance throughout the current crisis. The support will help enable the artists to invest in developing their careers, improve their skills and buy equipment and materials.”

The 44 awards were made to individual artists with 41 receiving grants of £2,000 each.

Damien Coyle, CEO of the University of Atypical, said: “This funding is of vital importance as it provides much needed assistance to d/Deaf and disabled artists who are struggling for financial survival. This support underpins the role University of Atypical plays in facilitating career enhancement opportunities for and in promoting the work of d/Deaf and Disabled Artists. The awards recognise the important contribution d/Deaf and disabled artists make to our society and they will create a legacy beyond the current pandemic as the visual arts and crafts works produced through the commissions go on display at public venues across NI.”