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The Arts & Disability Awards are administered by the Arts & Disability Forum on behalf of The Arts Council and the Arts Council of North Ireland.

For Further information on the awards and to receive a copy of an application form and award guidelines, contact the Arts & Disability Forum via the following means:

Download Online: www.adf.ie

By post: Arts & Disability Forum, Cathedral Quarter Workspaces, Ground Floor, 109-113 Royal Avenue, Belfast BT1 1FF

By Email: info@adf.ie

By Phone: (ROI: 048) (UK: 028) 9023 9450

By Textphone: (ROI: 048) (UK: 028) 9032 5744

By Fax: (ROI: 048) (UK: 028) 9024 7770

Background

Operating on a cross-border basis, the Arts & Disability Awards Ireland scheme is a dedicated grant system for individual disabled artists, managed by the Arts & Disability Forum on behalf of the two Arts Councils of this island, The Arts Council & Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Through this funding artists with disabilities have developed unique artwork of extremely high artistic quality, some progressing to a level where international recognition is won. The scheme’s purpose is to identify, encourage and nurture individual talent amongst disabled practitioners. The scheme is open to disabled artists living on the island of Ireland. Artists can apply for up to £5000 sterling or the Euro equivalent.

Criteria

Decisions are based on:

• Artistic excellence

• Innovative, original ideas

• Quality of planning – realistic and achievable aims

• Overall quality of application

As this is a developmental scheme, the panel considers applications from emergent talent as well as from artists who have an intensive level of previous contemporary arts experience. This is not however a 'taster' scheme for people with no experience in the arts and the panel expects to see support material giving evidence of artistic ability. The scheme is a competitive one and there is no automatic 'entitlement' to funds. Panel members may choose to make a reduced offer or fund only certain elements of a request.

The panel looks for original and innovative proposals for exciting and challenging new contemporary art work by disabled artists. The scheme works across all the impairment or disability types and all types of arts activity. Disability access requirements that are linked to artistic activity will be considered.

The main requirement is evidence of artistic talent. Decisions on feasibility are based on the information provided in the application and on the artistic potential represented in support material. The process is 'evidence-based' – it is important to include all the details in the application and support material rather than relying on the prior knowledge of ADF staff or panel members. The Awards Panel particularly welcomes applications for Disability Arts projects. This is a specific type of arts practice that involves artists with disabilities creating work that expresses their identity and experience as disabled people.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply?

The scheme is open to applications from individual disabled artists or a partnership of individual disabled artists working together on one project. You must be domiciled (permanent home) in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland.

Who cannot apply?

• Artists living (or domiciled for tax purposes) outside of the island of Ireland.

• Full-time students. Only part-time students (ie. up to 20 hours per week study) are eligible to apply.

• Non-disabled artists.

• Organisations or groups (eg drama groups, choirs, clubs etc). • Arts & Disability Forum staff members.

• Arts Council of Northern Ireland or Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaion staff members.

• Awards will not be granted to a project that is already receiving Arts Council of Northern Ireland or Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaion funding for the same purpose.

What type of request will be considered?

• Materials

• Training course fees (part-time and short-term courses only)

• Mentoring

• Equipment purchase or hire

• Arts project related travel and accommodation

• Arts project related subsistence

• Personal Assistance to support carrying out an arts project

Application forms and guidelines are available from the Arts & Disability Forums website (Click here)

Please note: All applications for the Arts & Disability Awards (whether email or hardcopy) must arrive at the ADF Office by 4pm on 09 August 2010. Late applications will not be accepted. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure deadlines are met: the ADF will not accept any liability for technical failure or misdelivered mail.