Arts & Disability Forum

Plaaang Diddley!

by Andrew Cooke

Part of the 14th Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival

3rd to 30th May 2013

at the ADF Gallery, Royal Avenue, Belfast.

On Thursday 2 May, 5-7pm, there will be a preview at the Arts & Disability Forum of a show where not only are you welcome to touch, you’ll be able to make a noise too. Ceramicist Andrew Cooke makes unusual bespoke musical instruments: diddley bows. They are derived from instruments used in West Africa, where children play them, one beating the string with sticks and the other changing the pitch by moving a slide up and down. The instrument was developed as a children's toy by slaves in the United States. People will be able to pick the diddley bows and play them in the gallery.

All visitors are welcome, including at the preview, and admission is free of charge. If you haven’t been to the ADF before, ask for Chris or Leo on arrival and we’ll introduce you onwards. Braille or BSL interpretation, audio described tours and group visits are available – please request in advance.

This exhibition has been programmed by the ADF as a contribution to the 14^th Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival (www.cqaf.com).

The preview will be 5-7pm on Thursday 2nd May in the ADF Gallery on Royal Avenue. Light refreshments will be available.

Following the preview, the exhibition will be open to the public, from 3^rd to 30th May between 11am to 3pm, Tuesday to Friday.

For further information please telephone: 028 9023 9450 or email leo@adf.ie.

Arts & Disability Awards Ireland 2013

2013 scheme opens on Wednesday 17 April 2013

Deadline: 4pm on Wednesday 19 June 2013

This is about supporting and promoting exciting and challenging contemporary work that just happens to be produced by disabled artists. The scheme works across all impairment or disability types and is open to all types of artistic activity. We want to ensure that people with talent are given the necessary tools to develop their artistic vision.
Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland

Managed by the Arts & Disability Forum on behalf of the two Arts Councils of this island, the Arts & Disability Awards Ireland scheme supports individual deaf or disabled artists to produce exciting new contemporary arts work in all media. Through this funding, artists with disabilities have developed unique artwork of extremely high artistic quality, some progressing to a level where international recognition is won. Advice is available from the initial idea through to the submission of the application.

The scheme’s purpose is to identify, encourage and nurture individual talent amongst disabled practitioners. Individuals can apply for up to £5,000 (or the Euro equivalent).