Welcome to University of Atypical for Arts and Disability
- We support and promote work by d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists in Northern Ireland and beyond.
- We are led by disabled people.
- Our Atypical Gallery delivers a year-round programme of exhibitions.
- Our annual Bounce Arts Festival showcases innovative and powerful work by d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent artists across multiple art forms.
- Our accessible Ledger Studio is available for you to hire.
- We run the Arts and Disability Access Awards, a support and accreditation scheme in accessibility best practice for arts organisations.
- You can get involved in our volunteer programmes, artist support programmes, training programmes, and employment opportunities.
Events at University of Atypical
twixt – group exhibition
‘twixt takes its name from the notion of being in between, at an interval and interweaving. Recipients of our d/Deaf and Disabled Support Fund grant programme have used the funding to deliver new pathways towards their own goals, some artists pursuing experimental directions or new ambitions – each at their own stage of development and discovery between concept and realisation.
‘twixt showcases the work of some of our twenty d/Deaf and Disabled Artists Support Fund 2025 (DDASF) awardees, including
Creative Networking Event- Disability Arts on the International Stage
As part of our International Day of Persons with Disabilities programme, we’re excited to bring back our Creative Networking Event for d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent artists.
Join us as we speak with artists Kate Guelke, Shiro Masuyama and Sinead O’Donnell about their experiences working internationally — exploring both the opportunities and the challenges that come with it.
Charys Wilson – Half Light
The work is inspired in part by the practice of forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku: a Japanese tradition of spending quiet, mindful time among trees. Research shows that this kind of intentional time in nature can reduce stress, improve mood, and even boost the immune system.
For many of us this kind of immersive experience can feel out of reach, especially during the colder months or in urban environments. This installation is a way to bring some of those benefits
Passages by Anushiya Sundaralingam
Passages navigates the psychological and physical experience of migration through a multidisciplinary approach combining drawing, sculpture, and installation. Central to the work are fragile sculptural boats and vessels that evoke skeletal structures—embodying the tension between vulnerability and endurance. These forms carry not only the physical weight of travel but also the invisible burdens of memory, trauma, and cultural identity.
