University of Atypical for Arts and Disability

14/07/2026

We still have some places available on our 4 day Summer Accessibility Programme.
Join Jonathan from Atypical, Paula Clarke, Margaret Mann, and Soso Ní Cheallaigh and a group of peers from the arts and culture sector. We will learn about disability history and experience, and talk about accessibility in an open and relaxed environment.

When: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on 21 and 28 July, and 18 and 25 August.
Where: Ledger Studio, 109-113 Royal Avenue, Belfast.

Cost for 4 days: £300 per person from a Belfast-based organisation, £260 per person from an organisation based outside Belfast, and £150 for individuals.

You can book using this link https://buff.ly/c0esZGI

For more information, email [email protected]

10/07/2026

‘What Lies Within’ is a group exhibition presenting the work of artists from three organisations. this exhibition represents collectives of artists from learning disability and neurodivergent backgrounds from Northern Ireland and Ireland together.

Art is Collective is a Belfast based assisted studio model group who represent a range of learning and health disabilities.

Connection Arts Centre is based in Dublin and is a social enterprise working alongside adults living with intellectual disabilities and neurodivergent adults.

Mencap NI works in partnership with people with a learning disability in Northern Ireland to fight to change laws and improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities.

10/07/2026

The University of Atypical office and the Atypical Gallery will be closed on Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 July 2026. We will reopen as normal on Wednesday 15 July at 10:00 am. Please come and visit us to see our current exhibition, ‘What Lies Within’ which runs until Friday 21 August 2026.

09/07/2026

Here are some of our favourite quotes from the fantastic novel “All’s Well” by Mona Awad.

We have been reading it for this month’s book club, and have picked some lines which stood out to us. They capture some of the key themes Awad tackles in the novel including the depiction of pain, pain invalidation including internal invalidation, and hope.

We will be hosting a book club in Belfast on Wednesday 22 July at 7:00 pm to discuss the novel and its themes in more detail.

Please come along if you are interested, the booking link is in below:
https://buff.ly/x1KaeVt

Tickets are now available for Atypical Book Club at Ledger Studio at University of Atypical, Belfast on Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 7:00PM. Click the link for further information and to secure your tickets now!

08/07/2026

You are invited to join us at 11:00 am on Thursday 9 July in the Atypical Gallery where we will be hosting an artist talk session with artists from Art is Collective, who are currently exhibiting in the gallery. Come along for a cuppa and a chat with the artists. BSL translation available.

Art is Collective artist studio space is currently located at 2 Royal Avenue, Belfast as an assisted studio model. Find out from the artists how this helps support their artistic practice.

There will be tea and coffee and a table with art materials for you to be creative with if you choose.

07/07/2026

VOLUNTEER WITH US AT BOUNCE FESTIVAL 2026!

Bounce Arts Festival 2026 is just around the corner, with events across Belfast from Wednesday 30 September until Sunday 4 October 2026. We are looking for more volunteers to join our fantastic team to help us make the festival happen. Volunteers are an integral part of the Bounce Arts Festival. They provide a warm welcome to everyone, and ensure that audience members and artists come away with a fabulous experience.

Are you looking to gain valuable art experience, or know someone who is? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected]

As a disabled-led organisation, we welcome volunteers who are d/Deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent, and those from diverse backgrounds. We are interested in working with you whether you are introverted or extroverted, if you know a lot or very little about the arts, if you have specific skills or if you just want to learn!

Our Bounce Festival volunteer roles are ideal for anyone who:

Is over 18 and can attend at least one of our August training sessions
Is interested in the arts
Wants to know what goes on behind the scenes at a festival
Is keen to develop their front of house skills
Enjoys working as part of a team

07/07/2026

Last week we celebrated all of the organisations who have taken part in the Arts and Disability Access Awards (ADAA) over recent months, and to congratulate them for their hard work and commitment.

These organisations included Queen’s Film Theatre, Young at Art / Belfast Children’s Festival, Strand Arts Centre, Rogue Encounters, QSS, The MAC, Maiden Voyage Dance, The Lyric Theatre, Accidental Theatre, and NI Science Festival. Some of our freelance Access Advisors were also there (and were delighted to meet in person for the first time!).

Organisations worked with our Access Advisors to make accessibility improvements including: programming for D/deaf audiences; upgraded signage; changes to recruitment processes; installation of a loop system; website updates. These changes will have real and immediate positive impact on the participation of D/deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent people in the arts and culture sector.

All the organisations recently took part in our ‘Making the Arts Accessible’ training programme. We were very gratified to hear how much they enjoyed the course, and how it is informing their approach. We’re running this course again across 4 days in July and August. You can find out more and sign up through this link
https://buff.ly/EwoE8Lm

We’re thrilled to have helped make these changes happen, and extremely proud of all the ADAA organisations.

30/06/2026

We still have places available on our 4 day summer accessibility programme in all aspects of accessibility. The programme is designed and led by d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists.

It’s for professionals, students and freelancers working in arts, community, cultural, and voluntary sectors.

Each day will provide opportunities to learn from facilitators with lived experience of the topics, to ask questions relating to your own venue or organisation, and to discuss the issues with a group of arts and community workers in an open and relaxed environment.
The programme runs on 21 and 28 July, and 18 and 25 August, in the Ledger Studio, 109-113 Royal Avenue, Belfast.

The cost for 4 days is £300 per person from a Belfast-based organisation, £260 per person from an organisation based outside Belfast, and £150 for individuals (for example, students or freelancers).

You can book using the link below. For more information, email [email protected].

Arts Council of Northern Ireland Culture Belfast Belfast City Council

https://buff.ly/wsM4DBt

29/06/2026

On Wednesday 22 July 2026 we will be hosting our next Atypical Book Club!

We will be discussing All’s Well by Mona Awad: a story about chronic pain, inspired by Awad’s own personal experience.

We hope to spark interesting and productive conversations, and provide a space for the disabled community to connect and discuss challenging ideas.

Anyone is welcome to join, particularly if you are d/Deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent. The Book Club is an accessible and welcoming space where everyone can join in meaningful and open conversations inspired by our carefully curated reading list. Even if you don’t finish the book, please come along anyway and join the discussion!

Places are free, but please book online so you can tell us any access or dietary requirements. The booking link is https://www.ticketsource.com/university-of-atypical/t-qmaqegv
You can also contact us on 02890 239450 or at [email protected].

28/06/2026

A massive thank you to our Volunteer coordinator, Cinzia Savonitti, who sadly left University of Atypical in May. Cinzia has been a positive and charismatic addition to the team, bringing a great understanding and enthusiasm to her role.

While here, Cinzia played a vital role in expanding our volunteer programme. She did an excellent job recruiting new volunteers, and engaging with our existing volunteer group in order to sustain the welcoming and inclusive environment that we hope to promote at our events here at University of Atypical. This included Bounce festival, during which volunteers play an invaluable role in ensuring everything runs smoothly.

While she will be very much missed by all of us here on the team, we know she is going on new and exciting new things and we wish her all the very best in her future endeavours!
The team at University of Atypical will be seeking funding to make sure our volunteer programme continues. Over the coming months leading up to Bounce we will continue to liaise with volunteers towards becoming involved in Bounce Arts Festival. Louise will be in touch with volunteers to ensure the programming and opportunities continue over the short-term. Thank you Louise for stepping in!