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Welcome to University of Atypical for Arts and Disability

  • We support and promote work by d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists in Northern Ireland and beyond.
  • We are led by disabled people.
  • Our Atypical Gallery delivers a year-round programme of exhibitions.
  • Our annual Bounce Arts Festival showcases innovative and powerful work by d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent artists across multiple art forms.
  • Our accessible Ledger Studio is available for you to hire.
  • We run the Arts and Disability Access Awards, a support and accreditation scheme in accessibility best practice for arts organisations.
  • You can get involved in our volunteer programmes, artist support programmes, training programmes, and employment opportunities.

Bounce Arts Festival 2026

Bounce Arts Festival is run by University of Atypical for Arts and Disability and is Northern Ireland’s only disabled-led arts festival promoting the work and engaging audiences of artists from across Northern Ireland and beyond.

We are inviting artists and arts organisations to get in touch with us to submit proposals for Bounce 2026 which will take place in the first week of October in Derry-Londonderry and Belfast. 

We are excited to introduce the festival theme for 2026 ‘Art and Activism’ and would encourage you to consider your proposal in light of the theme.
To submit a proposal you can find the submission form below
We want a society where everyone can positively explore and express their creativity, curiosity and talents through the arts.
We want to improve the creative lives of d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people and help them access the arts.
These values are at the heart of everything we do: Inclusion, Equality, Access, Disabled-led, Human Rights, Excellence, Partnership.

Events at University of Atypical

Charys Wilson – Half Light

The work is inspired in part by the practice of forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku: a Japanese tradition of spending quiet, mindful time among trees. Research shows that this kind of intentional time in nature can reduce stress, improve mood, and even boost the immune system.
For many of us this kind of immersive experience can feel out of reach, especially during the colder months or in urban environments. This installation is a way to bring some of those benefits indoors: a moment of calm, light, and quiet connection.

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