Ballymena artist awarded funding for new stage play exploring misogyny

Ballymena artist Heather Martin

A Ballymena-based artist has secured new funding support to develop a stage play examining systemic misogyny within policing and medicine as part of a wider Northern Ireland arts initiative supporting D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent creatives.

Heather Martin is among 20 artists across Northern Ireland awarded £1,000 grants through the newly renamed Atypical Generation Fund, delivered by the University of Atypical with National Lottery funding on behalf of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

The Ballymena artist will use the funding to write a stage production focused on the experiences of women facing systemic misogyny in both policing and healthcare systems — one of a range of creative projects backed through this year’s programme.

The funding initiative, formerly known as the D/Deaf and Disabled Artists Support Fund, has now been relaunched as the Atypical Generation Fund and aims to help D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists continue developing careers across the creative sector.

County Antrim artists among recipients

Heather Martin is one of two artists from County Antrim to receive support through the latest funding round.

Also awarded funding is Norma Beggs, who plans to use the grant to produce a cohesive collection of six mid-scale textile works suitable for open submission exhibitions.

Across Northern Ireland, the £1,000 grants are supporting artists working in theatre, visual arts, literature, film and music, alongside projects involving mentoring, training and dedicated creative research time.

The programme is designed to remove barriers often faced by disabled and neurodivergent creatives while helping artists progress professional projects that may otherwise struggle to secure funding support.

‘An incredible impact on artists’

Atypical Generation Fund awardees: L-R back row: Paul Mulgrew, Rohan Young, Andrew McNeill, Isaac Quinn, Edel Murphy (CEO University of Atypical), Justine Scoltock, Norma Beggs, Aisling Monds, Omar Gunnoo, Patricia Lavery (Head of Community Arts and Education, Arts Council NI). L- R front row: Niamh McPhillips, Conor Bruen, Shannon Yee.

Edel Murphy, CEO and Artistic Director of the University of Atypical, said the grants continue to make a significant difference despite their modest size.

She said:

“While it has a new name ‘Atypical Generation Fund’, these grants have been a long-standing support for individual artists who are Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent to support their careers.

“There is a wealth of talent coming through this fund and while the grants are modest, the awards have an incredible impact on the artists.

“This fund is an important route for disabled artists to play an active role in the creative sector of Northern Ireland.”

Patricia Lavery, Head of Community Arts and Education at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said the funding would help artists pursue their creative ambitions while expanding access to the arts for wider audiences.

She said:

“Congratulations to the 20 artists who have been awarded funding.

“I sincerely hope this goes some way to help you be empowered to fulfil your creative ambition and achieve your full potential in the pursuit of artistic excellence.

“Ensuring that all audiences can, in their turn, enjoy equitable access to these proposed enriching arts experiences.

“I wish you all the very best in this next step in your creative journey and can’t wait to see the outcomes in the year ahead.”

Supporting creative careers across Northern Ireland

This year’s funding will support a wide variety of artistic development projects, including:

• stage play production

• visual arts development

• independent film work

• illustration and literature projects

• mentoring and training opportunities

• musical composition and development

• dedicated creative research time

The latest awards underline continuing efforts to improve inclusion and accessibility within Northern Ireland’s arts sector while helping artists from diverse backgrounds build long-term creative careers.

Further information about the Atypical Generation Fund is available through the University of Atypical.