University of Atypical for Arts and Disability

University of Atypical for Arts and Disability We are a multi-art form organisation which means we work with all types of visual, verbal, performance, music, craft and creative arts.

We are a disabled-led charity developing, showcasing and promoting work by D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists, and work to make the arts more accessible for D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists and audiences. University of Atypical for Arts and Disability is a disabled-led arts charity, taking an empowerment based approach towards supporting disabled, d/Deaf and neurodiverse people’s involvement in the arts. Our focus is working with people across all disabilities, neurodiversities and the d/Deaf community. We deliver a year-round programme of exhibitions and events, training and workshops. Our annual Bounce Arts Festival, The Atypical Gallery, the Ledger Studio performance space and our grant awards for disabled, d/Deaf and neurodiverse artists of all arts disciplines are key aspects of our work. If you are an artist, arts organisation, interested in volunteering or work within the disability sector, we would love to hear from you. We are core funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, The Ireland Funds and supported by a range of other funders.

'University of Atypical for Arts and Disability' operates under the legal name of 'Arts and Disability Forum'. Registered office address is Ground Floor, 109-113 Royal Avenue, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT1 1FF
Company Registration Number is NI051776
Charity number 101588

It is Book Week NI!Here at University of Atypical, we don’t need an excuse to chat about all things book-related. Our bo...
22/10/2025

It is Book Week NI!

Here at University of Atypical, we don’t need an excuse to chat about all things book-related.
Our book club is back on Thursday 20 November with Octavia E.Butler’s Parable of the Sower.

The Atypical Book Club is a welcoming space for Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people to discuss Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent representation in fiction, and books by Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent authors.

https://buff.ly/ePNTOxu

Libraries NI BBC Northern Ireland

The last day to visit the current exhibition Passages by Anushyia Sunderalingam is Wednesday 29 October. Passages reflec...
18/10/2025

The last day to visit the current exhibition Passages by Anushyia Sunderalingam is Wednesday 29 October. Passages reflects the embodied experience of navigating both external displacement and internal pain and the exhibition has opened a space for interesting conversations in the gallery.

We look forward to sharing more news about our next exhibiting artist, Charys Wilson, soon.

Extended deadline for Freelance Access Advisor roleUniversity of Atypical is excited to recruit new regional Access Advi...
17/10/2025

Extended deadline for Freelance Access Advisor role

University of Atypical is excited to recruit new regional Access Advisors to support arts, cultural, community and heritage organisations across Northern Ireland. Advisors will support organisations as they develop and implement an Accessibility Improvement Plan.
Salary: £15 per hour on a freelance contract.

This is a 12 month role (subject to contract renewal on a yearly basis).
Weekly hours per week will fluctuate, but the estimated commitment is between 16 and 21 hours per month.

Please note that we have extended the application deadline until 4:00 pm on Monday 27 October 2025.

https://buff.ly/VeJaWe8

Bounce wouldn’t be the same without our incredible volunteers, also known as ‘Bouncers’.Every year, they help ensure eac...
16/10/2025

Bounce wouldn’t be the same without our incredible volunteers, also known as ‘Bouncers’.
Every year, they help ensure each event runs seamlessly while creating the warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes Bounce.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered at this year’s Bounce Arts Festival.

“I enjoyed helping out for an arts organisation that facilitates meaningful and interesting work” - Bounce Volunteer

Interested in volunteering and want to find out more?
Contact Cinzia at volunteer@universityofatypical.org or call us on 028 90239450

https://buff.ly/bRoSTxC

Volunteer Now

16/10/2025
16/10/2025

The project was funded through the Cultural Bridge, a funding programme that supports arts and cultural organisations across the UK and Germany to develop…

15/10/2025

🌍 Have you thought about collaborating with an artist based overseas? Are you a disabled artist living in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales?

💻 On Wednesday 12 November we're running two online sessions to answer all your questions about developing international collaborations online, and how to apply to our Arts – British Council Micro Awards to fund this.

Register your interest by Wednesday 22 October: bit.ly/4mODkjP

📷 Unlimited Partner Awards commissioned artists welcome event. Photo: Wellcome Collection.

Image description: Text reads 'Want to collaborate with disabled artists internationally?' A photo show's two people in conversation, gesturing with their hands.

We’ve matched our last Book Club of the year to go along with our Green themed November/December Gallery exhibition. Joi...
15/10/2025

We’ve matched our last Book Club of the year to go along with our Green themed November/December Gallery exhibition.

Join us on Thursday 20 November in the Ledger Studio to discuss Octavia E. Butler’s climate dystopia ‘The Parable of the Sower’. All welcome, book your free place in advance if you would like to let us know about any access or dietary requirements.

https://buff.ly/R6KWxxE

It's the Movement for Good Arts and Culture Special Draw and we would love it if you could nominate University of Atypic...
13/10/2025

It's the Movement for Good Arts and Culture Special Draw and we would love it if you could nominate University of Atypical (Arts & Disability Forum). If you nominate us by Sunday 19 October 2025 we could win £5000 to keep working to make the arts in Northern Ireland accessible for everyone.
https://buff.ly/jo29Hm0

Wrap up the year in style at the Ledger Studio! We're now taking Christmas and end-of-year bookings.Whether you're plann...
13/10/2025

Wrap up the year in style at the Ledger Studio! We're now taking Christmas and end-of-year bookings.

Whether you're planning a festive performance, a creative workshop, an end-of-year meeting, or a holiday gig, the Ledger Studio is the perfect space to make it happen.

Our accessible studio is located in the heart of Belfast and is designed to support creativity, collaboration, and connection. The Ledger Studio is the perfect setting to celebrate the season and reflect on the year.

Book a tour or reserve your space today:
ledgerstudio@universityofatypical.org
028 9023 9450

We can't wait to see you soon!

Recruiting Freelance Access Advisor (4-5 hours per week)University of Atypical is excited to recruit new regional Access...
11/10/2025

Recruiting Freelance Access Advisor (4-5 hours per week)

University of Atypical is excited to recruit new regional Access Advisors to support arts, cultural, community and heritage organisations across Northern Ireland. Advisors will support organisations as they develop and implement an Accessibility Improvement Plan.

Job Role: Freelance Access Advisor - Information, Advice & Advocacy (4-5 hours per week)

Salary: £15 per hour on a freelance contract. Hours per week will fluctuate, but the estimated commitment is between 16 and 21 hours per month.

12 month role (subject to contract renewal on a yearly basis)

Application deadline: 4:00 pm on Monday 20 October 2025.

For more information: https://buff.ly/qcHW9uG or email administration@universityofatypical.org

Bounce 2025 may have just ended but we are already looking ahead to next year.We invite you to get involved in Bounce 20...
10/10/2025

Bounce 2025 may have just ended but we are already looking ahead to next year.
We invite you to get involved in Bounce 2026 from Thursday 1 October to Sunday 4 October 2026. The festival theme for Bounce 2026 is Arts and Activism.
Proposals from artists and organisations that are disabled-led should be sent by 4:00pm on Monday 6 December 2025.
Please request a proposal form by emailing adminstration@universityofatypical.org with ‘Bounce Proposal 2026’ in the subject line or visit https://buff.ly/4u5ywVF to download the form.

Address

Ground Floor, Cathedral Quarter Workspaces, 109-113 Royal Avenue
Belfast
BT11FF

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 5:30pm
Thursday 10am - 5:30pm
Friday 10am - 5:30pm

Telephone

02890239450

Website

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Our Story

University of Atypical is a disabled-led arts charity, taking an empowerment based approach towards supporting disabled and deaf people’s involvement in the arts. The company specialises in developing and promoting the work of artists who are disabled and deaf and in reaching disabled and deaf audiences. Membership of the UofA is free to disabled/deaf individuals. University of Atypical’s lead funder is the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and additional core funding is provided by Belfast City Council. The company attracts project support from a range of other funders and makes earned income from ticket sales. Donations from individuals and from businesses are very welcome - all donations go back into our work with disabled and deaf artists and audiences. Working with all art forms and across all impairments, UofA delivers a year-round programme of exhibitions and events, including Bounce Arts Festival, which presents an exciting range of music, theatre, dance and visual arts by artists who are disabled /deaf, alongside family friendly activities. This year’s Bounce dates are 5-8 September. Atypical Gallery shows work by disabled and deaf artists on a year-round basis. It is on the Ground Floor of Cathedral Quarter Workspaces, at the Belfast Telegraph end of Royal Avenue (opposite the Mace shop/Central Library). University of Atypical manages the iDA grant scheme for disabled/deaf artists, with funds from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Our Arts & Disability Equality Charter supports venues to be as accessible as possible for disabled/deaf audiences and artists.

Membership is free to disabled /deaf people and others can join for a small fee. Being a member shows us - and our funders - that you value our work. For a membership form please contact info@universityofatypical.org.

You can sign up to our mailing list on our website www.universityofatypical.org.