University of Atypical announces Sounds Atypical Two award recipients for d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent music creators in Belfast.
University of Atypical for Arts and Disability has allocated a total of £25,000 to performers in the music sector.
It follows a recent open call for grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 provided through Belfast City Council to support, promote, and create opportunities for d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent music creators and audiences in Belfast.
This year, six grants in total have been awarded to Northern Irish music creators across genres, industry experience, and disabilities for events to take place in Belfast in 2026.
Speaking at the award event, Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Paul Doherty, said: “Belfast City Council is delighted to continue our partnership with University of Atypical to fund the delivery of Sounds Atypical, an important fund that supports high quality, accessible live music events by, and for, the d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent community in Belfast.
“We have seen the impact of this fund on the sector over the past years and look forward to experiencing the excellent work of Martin Della Vecchia, Joe Kenny, Andy Skinner, William McLean, Lauren Martin and Susie Blue over the course of the next year.”
One recipient, Joe Kenny, a blind singer song-writer based in Belfast told us: “I’m absolutely delighted to have received a funding award from the Sounds Atypical grant. My project will be a live music show featuring myself and Andrea Begley and Paula Stevenson aka Future Her – two other terrific music artists with lived experience of sight loss. It’s even better that we can include this gig as part of the Bounce Arts Festival in October 2026.
I’m determined that music artists with a disability are better represented within the local live music calendar. My disability isn’t everything. When I’m on stage playing and singing, I don’t need to see to know what’s going on. I feel that connection with my audience just like any other artist. If there is such a thing as magic, I think it’s there.”
The other recipients of the award include:
Lauren Martin who will develop a solo performance event called ‘In bloom: unexpected Joy’, exploring themes of motherhood, identity and disability.
Andy Skinner will lead a mentoring performance event bringing established disabled artists and emerging artists together for an intensive immersive learning experience.
Martin Della Vecchia will present ‘Rooms of the Unspoken’, a sound installation event to be held over four-days at UNTOLD Museum in Belfast.
Susie and Audrey Blue will showcase BFrank indie alternative pop with a set of new songs alongside burlesque and dance choreography.
Speaking at the announcement of awardees this week, Edel Murphy CEO and Artistic Director of University of Atypical said, “Sounds Atypical is a hugely important programme making meaningful change to music sector artists and audiences who are deaf, disabled and neurodivergent. The impact of this award goes beyond the artists who have received the award; visibility of disabled artists and accessibility for disabled audiences is also key to Sounds Atypical. University of Atypical will work with each performance event to deliver accessibility for audiences through sign language, captioning, audio description and venue access.”
Events will take place throughout 2026. Keep up to date on events through our socials.