In 1992, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed December 3 as International Disabled People’s Day, which brings together individuals, businesses, community organisations, and governments from every corner of the world to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions, skills, and achievements of disabled people. Mayo County Council’s Arts Office has made a considerable commitment to the development of arts and disability and has an excellent working relationship with a number of local arts initiatives for groups of disabled artists such as the Luisne visual arts project, Ballinrobe, and the Scanán Technology project, Ballina.
The arts office was delighted to support six projects in celebration of International Disabled People’s day. Throughout the county partnerships made up of venues, artists, and groups of disabled people were developed to create projects/events which took place between September 2011 and January 2012. The projects supported were Western Care and Áras Inis Gluaire, Belmullet; The Ridgepool Training Centre and Ballina Arts Centre, Ballina; Western Care Ballina and Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Ballycastle; Connaught Creative Resource Centre and The Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar; The Linenhall also screened Living Colour an observational documentary film about a disabled artists’ collective in Callan, Co Kilkenny, in tandem with the exhibition launch.
The Luisne Art Project and Tacu Family Resource Centre, Ballinrobe; Carrowbeg Enterprises and The Custom House Studios, Westport.
