Sounds Atypical Music Grant Scheme
The Sounds Atypical Music Grant Scheme is a Belfast City Council funded opportunity for d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent musicians to develop, promote and provide platforms for disabled musicians in performance spaces across Belfast.
You can apply for between £1,000 and £5,000 (rounded up to the nearest £500).
You can also apply for access costs. These costs are in addition to your main budget.
Key Information and Dates
- Application opens: Tuesday 25 November 2025 at 12:00 pm
- In-person advice session: Friday 9 January 2026 6:30 to 7:30 pm
- Online advice session: Monday 12 January 2026 6:30 to 7:30 pm
- One-to-one advice sessions open: Tuesday 9 December 2025
- One-to-one advice sessions close: Tuesday 3 February 2026
- Application closes: Thursday 12 February 2026 at 4:00 pm
- Announcement of successful applications: March 2026
- Events happen: between 1 April and 31 December 2026
- Evaluation and reports submitted: 8 weeks after event completion
Different formats
If you need this application in a different format, contact us at administration@universityofatypical.org at least two weeks before the deadline.
Guidance notes
Please read the Guidance Notes carefully before you start, and that you refer to these as you fill in the form. These explain what we want, and why.
Guidance notes videos are available in British and Irish Sign Language below.
Advice Sessions
There are two types of advice session – online sessions and in-person sessions. You need to book to attend either types of session.
Application Pack
If you wish to receive the application pack by email please contact administration@universityofatypical.org
There are two ways to complete the application. You can submit the application form and supporting documents either through
the online Google Form, or via email by attaching the Microsoft Word application form and supporting documents.
Guidance notes videos in British and Irish Sign Language
Atypical Generation Fund
Atypical Generation Fund (Previously known as d/Deaf and Disabled Artist Support Fund or DDASF)
University of Atypical is delighted to announce that our annual individual artist support grants funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland through National Lottery Funds, will return in 2026. The new name for the grants is the Atypical Generation Fund replacing the name DDASF (d/Deaf and Disabled Artists Support Fund). The renaming reflects the organisation listening to feedback from our artists and wider stakeholders who felt the previous name was quite a mouthful and did not reflect the neurodivergent artist eligibility.
The Atypical Generation Fund recognises that the awards generate new possibilities for artists who are d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent to generate new work, generate greater sectoral profiling and find time to generate new connections and skills. The d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists we work with are also evolving and the labels and identities we own are broad, nuanced and diverse – and collectively are the Atypical Generation.
We hope that you like the new name. The grant process will not change significantly; twenty £1000 Atypical Generation Fund awards will be made in April 2026. The opening date for applications will be in late January or early February 2026. More information on the application process for Atypical Generation Awards will be available soon.
Graduate Art Award
This award is a fantastic opportunity to recognise and celebrate the talent of Ulster University emerging artists who identify as d/Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent.
The Funded Graduate Award is given to one recipient and is open to Ulster University graduating students:
- From Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art;
- From Bachelor’s Degree in Photography and Video;
- From Master’s Degree in Fine Art.
and who identify as d/Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent.
University of Atypical offers one Funded Graduate Award which includes the following:
- A solo exhibition opportunity at the Atypical Gallery;
- Mentoring sessions with an established artist;
- An exhibition fee;
- Career development advice;
- Development of an Access Rider;
- Marketing and promotion.
Digital Innovation award
Each year we give an award to a disabled artist who makes innovative use of technology within their creative process.
In 2024, the Digital Innovation Award went to Peter Fleming. Peter is a music industry veteran from Northern Ireland who uses remote communication technology to collaborate with musicians around the world.
His award went towards ‘Time’, the audio-visual installation that will premiere at the 2024 Bounce Arts Festival.
This award was made possible thanks to generous support from the Santander Foundation.
Support for Individual Artists Programme
We providing advice sessions to d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent artists who wish to apply to a range of funding opportunities available through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
These funding advice sessions happen online and in person. They are arranged in the lead up to the funding opportunity.
These funds are currently open closed for application.
This service is made possible thanks to support from our Principal Funder, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland through National Lottery Funds
