Mayo arts service's UPSTART 2022 open for applications

MAYO County Council’s arts service has announced the re-launch of UPSTART, an initiative of which aims to incentivise quality artistic collaborations between groups/people with disabilities, artists, arts venues and organisations within Mayo, and support opportunities for people with disabilities to develop arts projects in celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December 3.

Following a review of the scheme in 2020, the arts service is now inviting applications for UPSTART 2022 from individuals with disabilities, groups/organisations of people with disabilities, artists and venues.

Mayo County Council’s arts service has made a considerable commitment to the development of quality arts and disability activity in Co. Mayo through flagship projects and ongoing programmes.

Since 2010, through the UPSTART programme, the arts service has provided funding for 51 UPSTART projects, employing 116 artists/facilitators working with 677 participants on 460 workshops, leading to 59 presentations/performances to over 3,000 audience members.

The collaborative projects in Mayo have led to a variety of extremely high-quality artistic outcomes including exhibitions, films, workshops, music, theatre and dance performances.

For information on UPSTART projects to date, see: www.mayo-upstart.ie.

Mayo County Council’s arts service is now inviting applications for UPSTART 2022. The deadline for applications is 5.p.m. on Wednesday, March 16.

If you would like to attend an information session about the scheme on Wednesday, February 23, at 10 a.m. you can join at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83864936129?pwd=clUvVzBwbC96UjdrMHdscTlKVW9MUT09.

If you would like to apply to the scheme please download an application form, with information about the eligibility criteria, at this link: https://www.mayo.ie/arts/funding/upstart.

For further information on the UPSTART programme, contact Damien O’Connor, disability arts coordinator, Mayo County Council, at (094) 906 4363 or doconnor@mayococo.ie.

UPSTART is strategically funded by Mayo County Council in partnership with the Arts Council.