Category: Bounce Performances

Weaving Threads is a multi-artform performance that brings together Open Arts’ participants who have developed their own artistic practice through support from DDASF grants, distributed by University of Atypical. 

Featuring Andrew Ward (poetry), Cinzia Savonitti (dance), Mary Lou McCord (music with support from Drake Music NI) and facilitated by Helen Hall and Linda Fearon. This work in progress explores their individual practice and the threads of connections between. 
In this, the 30th anniversary of Open Arts and the 10th Anniversary of Bounce, the performance celebrates the connection between Open Arts participatory programme and individual development supported through University of Atypical.

The mission of Open Arts is to inspire and support the creativity and artistic development of disabled people.
There is no similar participatory work happening in Northern Ireland with the ambition and scope; multiple art forms with so many individuals with such varying disabilities and additional support needs: our activities engage people with physical, learning and sensory disabilities; people with mental ill health and those who are neurodiverse.

Mary Lou McCord participates in drama, visual arts and is a dancer with Luminous Soul and has performed across Northern Ireland in both drama and dance. Mary Lou has also been a musician with Drake Music NI since 1993 and has performed across Europe In 2020 Mary Lou was awarded a University of Atypical grant to compose, record and edit her own musical compositions. 
 
Cinzia Savonitti, originally from Italy, came to Belfast as an EVS volunteer with the Crescent Arts Centre, which is when she discovered Open Arts and Luminous Soul dance company. Highlights of her dance career include performing at Echo Echo Festival, portraying Hermia in Open Arts production of Midsummer Night’s Dream and participating in MeetShareDance Festivals. In 2021 Cinzia received a University of Atypical grant to develop her own dance work exploring disability and language.

Andrew Ward has been a member of Open Arts creative writing group since 2012 and more recently, has joined the Open Arts drama group. 
He has regularly taken part in Purely Poetry, poetry slams and has attended numerous other writing groups. Andrew has a keen interest in illustration. In 2020 Andrew was awarded a University of Atypical grant to explore his childhood, through poetry, in light of his diagnosis of autism in later life.

Linda Fearon is a founding member of Luminous Soul dance company and has performed across Northern Ireland with the company. Linda has participated in MeetShareDance festivals in Portugal and Belfast. Linda has trained with numerous dancers and choreographers including Marc Brew, Caroline Bowditch and Claire Cunningham and has danced with companies including Maiden Voyage Dance, Echo Echo Dance and Pony Dance.

Helen Hall is the choreographer for Luminous Soul. Helen also creates and produces her own work which has been performed in many festivals. She was commissioned by University of Atypical in 2021 to produce, ‘Collecting Moments’; showcased at Bounce. In 2017, she received an Unlimited commission to create, ‘Inside The Speaker’. This has been included in many festivals; most recently, The Belfast Children’s Festival 2020. As well as creating her own performance work, she regularly collaborates with many Belfast based arts organisations to devise and deliver performance-based projects. 

Post Performance Discussion
You’re invited to join us after the performance of Weaving Threads for an informal post show discussion with the performers Andrew Ward (poetry), Cinzia Savonitti (dance), Mary Lou McCord (music) Helen Hall (dance) and Linda Fearon (dance) hosted by Isolde ÓBrolcháin Carmody dancer and co-founder of Undercurrent a trans-disciplinary practice towards connection, empowerment and diversity within the arts.

www.facebook.com/openartsbelfast
Twitter @openartsni
www.openartsni.org

Being disabled, D/deaf or neurodiverse is a challenge to ableist assumptions about what bodies and brains can do. Being an artist challenges capitalist assumptions about how to value work and productivity. Being a disabled, D/deaf or neurodiverse artist is a challenge to ableist capitalism.

How might we change practices of productivity if we stop? If we insist on pacing, taking proper breaks, ending a working day on time, how would that change the working culture of the arts?

Would our work be valued less? Is it even possible that our work would be valued more?

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 2021, Joe Kenny describes his debut EP ‘Perfect Fool’ as his lockdown labour of love. Described as: ” Full to the brim with super-smooth melodies and spell-binding fret wizardry,” by Edwin McFee in the Sunday Life.

Now living in Belfast, Joe confesses to having played his guitar the wrong way round for far too long to stop now.
Joe has taken his passion for Irish Folk music and blended it into a more contemporary Folk sound that could be said to also echo musical flavours that include John Martin, U2 and Snow Patrol to name but a few.

A live performer of over 25 years, Joe is a singer, musician and songwriter hailing from Dromintee, Co. Armagh in Northern Ireland. Joe wows audiences with his unique guitar style and an uncompromising vocal delivery that has enthralled and entertained audiences in venues throughout Ireland and beyond.
Follow Joe Kenny Music on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube.



#JoeKennyMusic

www.joekenny.net

What might an accessible residency look like or be like for artists who are d/Deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent? In collaboration with University of Atypical and COVEN BERLIN, videoclub has been exploring a model of best practice for accessible residencies.
 
Talking to artists and undertaking research with studio providers, we have been asking that question – for both in-person/physical and online residencies. In this talk we present some of our research, including what we’ve learned from artists and providers, and present suggestions for best practice for both accessible online and in-person residencies.

We will also be asking for your feedback on our model: What would you add? What do you think a model of best practice should have or be?

Jamie Wyld is founder and director of videoclub, an artists’ moving image and digital culture agency based in Brighton, UK, which delivers screenings, residencies, exhibitions and outdoor events in the UK and internationally.

In 2020, videoclub established Vital Capacities, an online accessible residency programme set up to replace international residencies during the pandemic. Focusing on disabled, d/Deaf and neurodivergent artists, Vital Capacities has supported eight residencies with 29 artists participating since September 2020, delivered with partners in Hong Kong, South Africa, Canada, Germany and across the UK.

A limited number of places are available, so booking is required. Please let us know your access requirements when booking.   

#accessibleresidencies #vitalcapacities

We’re super excited to welcome our first Bounce Arts Festival artist in residence, Davidt Dunlop. David is taking over the Crescent Arts Centre’s Cafe space and you’re invited to drop in and draw!
  
Come and see artist and illustrator Davidt Dunlop create an ‘Exquisite Corpse’ (a series of random images linked by conjoining lines to form a surreal creature). This is an old drawing game that takes little effort, but can result in creating weird, thought-provoking or hilarious collaborated artworks. You can also participate and add in your own section of the creature! No art skills are necessary and the workshop is open to all ages.

Davidt Dunlop is a Belfast born, Glasgow based creator, educator and self-publisher. His currently released books include the visual poetry book ‘The Snail’, the Jack Chick parody comic ‘Satanic Panic’ and ‘Poor Little Ghosts’ (a book influenced by poverty and death in Belfast and Glasgow). Stocked nationally and internationally by such shops as Travelling Man, Gosh! London and Quimby’s Chicago, he’ll be tabling events such as Acme Con, Glasgow Gothic and Thought Bubble in ’22.

No Booking Required – Drop in and Draw

twitter: davidtdunlop

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 to include Philip Glass, Erik Satie and  Chick Corea.

It is perhaps the spaces between where Ruth’s interests really lie. A determination to walk her own path, Ruth’s love of music goes far beyond the classical world. A highly sought-after collaborator, Ruth works with musicians from many backgrounds including jazz, folk and electronic.

By the age of 17, Derry native Ruth McGinley had already gained widespread recognition as one of Ireland’s leading pianists, winning countless accolades including both the piano finals of both the BBC and RTÉ.
Young Musician of the Year awards. Since then, her career has been wide-ranging and daring, collaborating with some of the most acclaimed musicians working today, and straying from the typical classical-pianist journey.

Ruth studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Royal Academy in London before being awarded a Postgraduate in Solo Performance from the Royal College in London. She has performed as soloist with many orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic, London Mozart Players, National Symphony Orchestra, RTE Concert Orchestra and Ulster Orchestra and as a solo recitalist throughout the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Ruth broadcasts regularly for BBC Radio 3, Classic FM, BBC Radio Ulster and was honoured to be invited to perform as soloist at the BBC Proms in the Park in 2016. 

Ruth is currently the 2022 ‘Artist in Residence’ at The MAC in Belfast and has just performed a solo concert at the Southbank Centre in London as part of ‘Unlimited’ festival.