Like many within the sector the Arts & Disability Forum was deeply saddened about the recent passing of Michael Morgan who died suddenly at home on Friday 27 April 2007.  Michael was a great campaigner for the arts and disability/disability arts who impacted on many.  He was a founding and dedicated member of the ADF and Chairman for several years and to mark his contribution to our organisation we invited contributions from our members.

Brendan O’Connell

Paying tribute to Michael is a very difficult task as Michael lived life to full and it was a life that I was very privileged to be close to albeit only for the last 3 of those years.

Michael was a founder member of the Art & Disability forum in the mid 1990s but had begun his disability activism some years before. There were many incidents that as he once said lead him to having ‘no choice’ but to be an activist.

When Michael could walk he put up with being constantly arrested by the police and the army in 1970s who stopped him on the pretext that he appeared inebriated. That harassment he bore with public humour and the expected amount of private anger.

However, it was when he learned while studying at Queen’s University Belfast that he had been refused a temporary lectureship on the grounds that his professor thought that the students would be ‘put off’ by his disability that he began to go on the offensive and fight for a society in which such blatant discrimination would be outlawed.

He carried that fight all the way to the top of his Union, the National Union of Journalists, for which he wrote many important policy documents and into Europe where he helped set up Euro-Ataxia, a European wide network for axtaians (people with ataxia and their social supporters and their medical and scientific advocates). Michael contributed many articles to the groups’ newsletter and was recently responsible for it going on-line.

And what of art you may ask? Here again his range was wide and deep more akin to the interests held by someone who had studied the subject with a view to teaching it. Then again most who take art as a subject specialize in one subject Michael knew of and valued the work of the painters David, Goya and Rembrandt.

This knowledge he not only got from important works of criticism such as those written by Robert Hughes, he also visited important exhibitions of these works. One of his last journeys was to London to see the work of David and Goya.

Only weeks before this he had visited an exhibition of Rembrandt’s drawings in Paris. His home was adorned with framed reproductions of his favourite works of these painters.  A number of he had put on to large wood blocks. One fine example especially comes to mind by the Russian modernist Malevich of an airman with his arms outstretched already to ‘take off’ without his plane.

Michael also valued the prose of Anton Chekhov, and Dostoyevsky and the poetry of Philip Larkin – who he could of course recite from memory. He thought his back garden had become like a scene form the Cherry Orchard by Chekhov which he could be forgiven for thinking as he talked with a glass of wine in his hand of the predictive qualities of Dostoyevsky to the music of his favourite Irish folk Altan. These sounds would often give way to the music of the Rolling Stones and the first movement of 7th Symphony of Shostakovich which he also would sing along to.

People when recalling him, will remember his professional acumen often expressed with humour. Many will recall reading one of his thought provoking articles in the form of letters, book reviews and reports of his many journeys. If he did have a way that he would like to be remembered it would be as he was before the sculpture of wounded lion of Lucerne – a place close to his heart and where he did his first work as journalist.

But he should also be remembered as a photographer who took many outstanding photographs. Once seen these are forceful images that stay in the mind, such as his image of the Egyptian Sphinx bathed in golden flood lights and then there is perhaps his most well known work, of a young tree surviving in the cool shade of a courtyard in the afternoon heat of Pompeii. This image along with his other photographs of a forest vista and his image of a San Francisco sky scraper made to look as if were an ancient obelisk, were shown in exhibition at the Arts & Disability Forum last December.

Arts Council of Northern Ireland

Michael Morgan made a lengthy and significant contribution to the arts & disability scene in Northern Ireland. He was Chair of the Arts & Disability Forum during its formative years and more recently was Chair of Open Arts. A leading authority on the subject, he wrote many papers and articles on arts and disability and Disability Arts, including a recent essay in ‘Face On; Disability Arts in Ireland and Beyond’ (Arts and Disability Ireland, 2007). His influence extends through arts & disability organisations throughout Northern Ireland.

Tributes have been paid to Michael by artists and disability arts groups from across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. All who knew him speak of his insight and wisdom, friendship and laughter, and of his strong campaigning spirit.  The Arts & Disability Forum today stated that, “he touched and changed many lives.”

The final time most people saw Michael in public was at a rally last Wednesday to campaign for more public funding for the arts, where he was full of customary warmth and enthusiasm. As an outspoken campaigner on arts and disability issues, he would have been proud to be remembered in this way.

Michael Morgan is survived by his sisters Roisin and Kathleen, and brothers Peter, Martin and Gerard.

“We lose too many of our warriors too soon.  With too many years unlived,  too many battles unwon.  And yet each one’s fight moves us all forward.”

- Sue Napolitano

Kate Ingram – Open Arts

Michael Morgan was chair of Open Arts from 2003 until his death in 2007.  He took on this role after resigning as chair of the Arts & Disability Forum and Open Arts benefited greatly from his experience.  The board of Open Arts also greatly appreciated his humour and his knowledge.

As chair he furthered a number of different projects, being particularly interested in the promotion of photography.  Michel was a tireless campaigner for Arts and Disability and his most recent project was to dream of a centre for Arts and Disability in the West of Ireland.

He planned for a state of the art building with accommodation up to the standard of a good hotel, lovely food, great facilities and lots of arts workshops. It’s something that is badly needed and Michael set about using his contacts to see if he could get it off the ground.

Meantime he continued to be very supportive of all that Open Arts undertook, attending concerts, performances and board training and planning meetings.  The dream of the Arts Centre has not come to fruition, but if it ever does it should definitely be named after him and will be a fitting memorial. Everyone at Open Arts misses his ready smile and his quick wit.

Finbar Rock

I probably knew Micky longer than anyone.  He and I were, as he called it, cot buddies, being born a few hours apart on the 28/29 of January 1956.  We had to share a cot in the maternity unit of the Royal that night.  We went to school and college together and recently rekindled a friendship through the wonders of electronic mail.  I have many fond memories of him and was devastated that I couldn’t make the funeral as I was out of the country.

We both turned 50 just over a year ago and I chose to celebrate, or defy, the years by undertaking the Coast to Coast walk in England.  I had done a few other long distance walks and feeling quite pleased with myself had sent Micky some photos of the Bluestack Way here in Donegal.  His immediate reaction was to inquire if there was wheelchair access on the way and whether it would be possible to do the route in the powerful new wheelchairs available? Put me right in my place. No obstacles too big when you have the right attitude.

I was walking in the mountains of Sicily, on a particularly strenuous route, as Micky was buried and thought of him every step of the way.

Royce Harper – NVTV

It’s with surprise and sadness that I heard of the death of Michael Morgan.  I was first introduced to Michael by Anthea McWilliams in 1991 and enjoyed his company and good spirits very much.  Only a month previous to his death I featured several of his photographic images in the ‘artery>’ TV programme.  He was part of a group exhibition, hosted by the Arts & Disability Forum’s Gallery, who recieve the smallest of financial help, yet whose shows are always interesting and thought provoking. Michael’s presence and voice on the Ulster arts scene will be missed.

David DuBose

I was shocked and saddened by the news of Michael Morgan’s passing, and want to express my condolences to his family and to all at the ADF. Michael’s devotion to the rights of all to participate in the arts was inspiring, and his life should serve as an example of how one person, in spite of significant physical challenges, can make such a huge difference for so many. I admire the courage and selflessness with which he struggled to make these important changes.

Mary and Andrew Gahan

Unfortunately we did not know Michael, however we feel Michael has left a legacy from which all members of the ADF will benefit.  We are therefore most grateful to Michael for his vision and efforts in founding the ADF.  We wish to thank Michael’s family for their valuable support during Michael’s years with ADF.

Anne Rollins

Michael was a unique and charming man.  I will miss him greatly.

Pádraig Naughton

I would not describe myself as a personal friend of Michael’s but like so many others will remember him with great fondness.  My first memory was of Michael as Chair dissolving the 1999/2000 ADF Executive Committee at the AGM held in the Share Holiday Centre in Lisnaskea and he said, “I suppose we’ve reached that point in the meeting where I’m expected to ask the outgoing Committee to stand down, lie down or something like that.”  For me this memory typifies Michael as a writer and journalist too!  Someone who said what was required but always in his own way.

Hans Dorė – Euro-Ataxia

Michael has always been one of the thriving forces of Euro-Ataxia.  For many years he edited the newsletter and was always there to advise and help out. He was busy working on a new issue when, like so many Fa’ers, his heart gave away.  Apart from being a great inspirer for Euro-Ataxia, Michael was a very dear personal friend. I remember with fondness our get-togethers on Euro-Ataxia meetings and especially the holidays we spend in Donegal a few years ago, when Michael had invited us over.  It sure feels like the end of an era now that he too is no longer with us.  Sláinte.

Alison Livingstone

Michael was Chairperson of the ADF immediately preceding me, standing down to take a step back from Committee responsibilities.  It was great that he returned to the Committee a few years later – he had a very broad knowledge and his help was invaluable.  Michael did everything with great humour and was dedicated to the work of the Forum.  He was sometimes controversial but always had the interest of the Forum at heart.  He will be much missed in an official capacity as a Committee Member but also on a personal note.

Chris Ledger

Behind that benign grin lay biting humour and fierce idealism. Rejecting ”cream buns at Hillsborough” Michael had a passion for the arts that made him determined to remain involved, whatever life threw at him. Like many of his friends, I smile at the memory of hopping around to avoid the irresistible force that was Michael at a joystick. For me – and for many others – there’s a zig-zag shaped gap at arts events and it has Michael’s name on it.