Artists with disabilities across Westmeath have been invited to apply for a grant to progress their work, it was revealed this week.
Rehab, the international organisation for people with disabilities, has announced details of a new visual, and performing arts fund which will provide €150,000 over the next five years to promote careers in the arts for people with disabilities and people with mental health difficulties.
Applications are being sought from people with disabilities working or studying in the arts who require financial support for the year 2013, and the scheme is open to people interested in a wide range of visual and performing arts - from painting, sculpture, and graphic art to film and drama, music, and dance.
The closing date for the first year of the fund is Thursday February 28, and grants of between €1,000 and €10,000 are available to people with disabilities, who are 17 years and over and who wish to pursue a career in the arts.
“This new fund will support a number of people to progress their careers in the arts. An average of €30,000 will be available annually for the next five years. We really want to get the message out there that this fund is available for people who have a disability or a mental health difficulty who wish to develop their career in the arts. We want to give talented people a stepping stone to a successful career in their chosen area of the arts,” said Angela Kerins, Rehab’s chief executive.
Applications will be judged on the basis of their originality and creativity, potential future development, and previous portfolio of work.
Applications can be for a particular artistic idea or work, or can support an individual in undertaking a residency or pursuing studies in their chosen area.
Applications can be submitted electronically to [email protected] or by letter to Visual and Performing Arts Fund, Rehab Group, Roslyn Park, Sandymount, Dublin 4, with a full CV and a two-page description of the artistic project or field of study for which funding is sought.
To see the full terms and conditions of the fund go to www.rehab.ie
Rehab started as a support group for people with disabilities in Ireland over 50 years ago, and now employs nearly 4,000 people in six countries.
