Bounce Arts Festival

WELCOME TO BOUNCE ARTS FESTIVAL 2022

Ticket links Below

Bounce Arts Festival has become that ‘atypical’ arts festival in the annual calendar of events in Northern Ireland. Bounce is still the only festival that is solely dedicated to the celebration and showcasing of arts created by d/Deaf, disabled and neurodiverse creatives regionally. 

Bounce is blossoming and maturing from its modest beginnings in 2012 as part of the cultural olympiad Bounce continues to draw the most exceptional artists from across these islands and beyond. Our main venue partner for Bounce 2022 is the Crescent Arts Centre and Bounce is doing a “Take Over” of the Crescent Arts Centre for the duration of the festival. We continue pushing our geographic boundaries, and our partnership with Derry City and Strabane district Council and new partners Fermanagh and Omagh District Council means we are able to cover events in Derry~Londonderry, Enniskillen and Omagh. Other events in the North west will be hosted by our festival partners the Nerve Centre, the Centre for Contemporary Art and the VOID.

The programme brings together a dynamic mix of performance, workshops, music, dance, visual arts and lots of fun.

Integral to our festival is accessibility – we aim to make our events as accessible as possible to D/deaf and disabled audience members. Access requirements – including captions, audio description and British and Irish Sign Language – can be booked in advance through our website. 


Contact: ash@universityofatypical.org
or call 028 9023 9450 to discuss your requirements

Bounce Events 2022

Workshop Exploring melody, music and Rhythm – Project Sparks

Come along and explore melody, movement and rhythm with Project Sparks’ exceptionally talented disabled/neurodivergent mentors. Every voice and ability will shine in this inclusive music workshop, as participants explore their creativity through drumming, singing, xylophones and other inclusive instruments. Everyone

Bounce Arts Festival Launch – KIC & Tony Kaluarachchi

The Lord Mayor of Belfast and Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland will open the Bounce Arts Festival 2022. The launch will include video messages from our partners Derry City and Strabane District Council and Fermanagh and

Video Real Artist: Group exhibition

The University of Atypical for Arts and Disability and our partners Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, offer the ‘Video Real’ online exhibition by. Members of Fermanagh & Omagh District Council’s Access Advisory Groups who have captured and compiled a selection

Get it out of you! – Paul Moore

Get it out of you! is a new live work by Paul Moore who is particularly intrigued by the body and landscape, nature and machine in relation to our internal and external experiences. His recent work has been informed by

My Place & Space – Group exhibition

The University of Atypical for Arts and Disability is delighted to work with our festival partners Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Derry City & Strabane District Council, bringing new voices to Bounce 2022.  This new open submission exhibition has

Digital innovation – meet the artists- Grace Fairley, Porcelain Delaney

Introducing the first taster sessions from two outstanding neurodiverse artists.  Grace Fairley, animation artist from Northern Ireland introduces her workshop on creating animated promotional gifs and Porcelain Delaney, theatre and performance artist from Liverpool shares her learning on overcoming communication

THE VIBES PLAY SKA /REGGAE – THE VIBES

Join us for the final live event of Bounce Arts Festival 2022 with a fun filled night of Belfast’s finest Reggae & Ska! Come out to play, get your toe’s tappin, throw some shapes and bring your dancing shoe/s! We

Joe Kenny Live for BOUNCE 2022 – Joe Kenny

Join Joe Kenny live for an exclusive matinee show as part of BOUNCE 2022. An unmissable show for the shoppers, Joe will be performing songs from his debut EP Perfect Fool, along with some well-known acoustic favourites. Released in September

TRANSIENCE… Intimate Moments at the Piano – Ruth McGinley

An intimate evening of piano music that promises to draw the listener into McGinley’s unique  and soothing sound world. ‘Transience’ is a musical journey through fleeting moments of musical storytelling that promises to stir emotions. An array of music featured

Shussssh! – Open Arts

Shussssh!! Ok so we know this kind of thing happens on the downlow but why not pop along and witness this unique public intervention starting with an acapella song from Africa followed by Proud Mary. Luminous Soul dancers will join

Creative Dance and Movement Masterclass – Helen Hall

Come and explore, create dance and movement with Helen. Helen will guide you through movement tasks to allow you to express your own unique way of moving. This will be a relaxed and fun workshop that will energise the body.   Helen

My Life With Them – Book Launch

“I’d like to write my life story.” ‘My Life With Them’ is the non-linear autobiography of Larry MacAree. His book is filled with rich anecdotes about Belfast from the late 1960s onward through the eyes of a curious and imaginative individual.

Song Of The Bones – VOKXEN

The story of Ireland’s last Witch Trial ‘The Song of the Bones’ is a piece of dark, immersive storytelling gig theatre; merging our electronic pop music with puppetry and spoken word poetry, to tell the tale of the Islandmagee Witch

CHILL – A relaxed classical concert

The Crescent and Belfast Music Society are delighted to present an afternoon of accessible high quality classical music for people with additional access requirements and their families. Join Christopher, Cecily and Lauren from RiCh Music NI as they create both

Something for Nothing? – Jo Verrent

Don’t expect something for nothing (especially from disabled creatives)!  Sound familiar? ‘Could you just tell us how…?’ ‘Have you any contacts you could pass on?’ ‘Where can I find further info on that?’ ‘Could you pop by and tell us

Scenes from Inner Space – Blue Chevy Ensemble & Paula Clarke

1st Experience: 7.00pm – 7.40pm 2nd Experience: 7.40pm – 8.20pm 3rd Experience: 8.20pm – 9.00pm  The Blue Chevy Ensemble, in collaboration with deaf performer/activist Paula Clarke, presents Scenes from Inner Space a newly devised, visually immersive experience of physical theatre

LIMINAL – Hugh O’Donnell

Liminal is a new performance artwork by artist Hugh O’Donnell is part of Bounce Arts Festival 2022 and is live only once, not to be missed! Liminal explores in between things,  may it be a doorway or a slight breeze

Still Livin’ – Larry MacAree

“It’s an exhibition about my life. I’ve always been an artist for a long time. I’m related to an artist, thousands of years back.” (Larry MacAree) Still Livin’, a new solo exhibition by artist Larry MacAree. Larry was one of

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