Atypical Generation Fund is open! £1,000 grants for D/deaf, disabled & neurodivergent artists in Northern Ireland. Applications opens: Monday 2 February 2026 at 12:00 pm Deadline: Tuesday 10 March 2026 at 4:00 pm More information on our website. buff.ly/tsCvV1C

All ready for tomorrow's Volunteer Information Session! Drop in anytime, grab a coffee, enjoy some free goodies and have a chat about volunteering with us, Thursday 29/01, 10:00 am-12:00 pm, Ledger Studio (Ground Floor), 109-113 Royal Avenue, Belfast [email protected] for info

Deadline approaching! Sounds Atypical funding is closing soon. Musicians creating accessible, disabled-led music events in Belfast can apply. £1,000–£5,000 available Access costs supported separately Apply here universityofatypical.org/awards-and-o...

Join us on Fri 20 Feb for our Creative Networking Event marking International Day of Social Justice. Bringing together d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists to explore arts, activism and disability—representation, art for change, a panel, plus coffee, pastries and networking.

A few places left! Join our Introduction to British Sign Language course, which is led by the always brilliant Paula Clarke. The course is perfect for beginners and anyone curious about BSL and Deaf culture.

Want to support d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists? Join us for our Volunteer Information Session

On Friday 13 February 2026, we are delighted to welcome Darlene Corry to the Ledger Studio. The morning workshop will explore how creative writing can support wellbeing through grounding prompts, mindful writing practices. Participants will receive a journal to support ongoing daily writing.

Ever thought about joining a book club but weren’t quite sure? Our Atypical Book Club is the perfect place to start. Our first Book Club of 2026 takes place on Thursday 22 January in the Ledger Studio, and we’ve chosen to discuss Octavia E. Butler’s climate dystopian novel The Parable of the Sower.

Are you a musician and interested in creating more accessible and disabled-led music events in Belfast? Sounds Atypical Music Awards Two is currently open. Funded by Belfast City Council these music awards are for disabled led music events to take place in Belfast City Council regions in 2026.

Learn something new this year! Join our Introduction to British Sign Language course with Paula Clarke. Mondays 6–7pm, 26 Jan–16 Mar 2026. 8 weeks for £60. Book your place now. buff.ly/1eb9CRa

Are you a musician and interested in creating more accessible and disabled-led music events in Belfast? Sounds Atypical Music Awards Two is currently open. Funded by Belfast City Council these music awards are for disabled led music events to take place in Belfast City Council regions in 2026.

Wishing you a Happy New Year from all the team at University of Atypical. The office is open from Tuesday 6 January. We have exciting plans for 2026 so why not sign up to our newsletter to find out more. universityofatypical.org/mailing-list/

Looking for a last-minute Christmas gift or something a little different? Why not treat someone to a place on our Introduction to British Sign Language course in 2026.

Our staff and volunteers will be taking a well-deserved break over the holidays. As a result, our office, Ledger Studio and the Atypical Gallery will be closed from 3:30 pm on Friday 19 December, and will reopen on Tuesday 6 January 2026. We wish everyone a peaceful holiday season !

Huge thanks to everyone who joined us for our International Day of Persons with Disabilities events! Nearly 600 people came through our doors to celebrate, connect, and take part. #IDPD #Belfast

Thanks to everyone who attended the ‘Art and Our Environment’ workshop as part of our International Day of Persons with Disabilities celebrations. “This was truly enlightening and the tutor was so lovely, patient and caring” Feedback from a participant. Thank you to our funder Public Health Agency.

Join us on Friday 5 December at 1:00 - 2:00 to hear our exhibiting artist Charys Wilson talk about her practice and exhibition ‘Half Light’. Free and no booking required. British Sign Language included.

Our final Creative Networking Event of 2025 was a great way to kick off our programme of events for International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Join us for more events, including an artist talk with Charys Wilson, Late Night Art, and a film screening of ‘Life After’. buff.ly/81qDlnJ

We are delighted to announce the launch of Sounds Atypical Music Awards Year Two. Funded by Belfast City Council these music awards are for disabled led music events to take place in Belfast City Council regions in 2026.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities is on 3 December. Join us for our programme of celebrations featuring artist networking, the launch of the music grant, a new exhibition opening, and our first-ever film screening. universityofatypical.org/get-involved...

We’ll be showing Life After, Friday 5 December a powerful and deeply reflective documentary by director Reid Davenport that explores Medical Assistance in Dying through​ the often​ absent voices of disabled people. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjfl...

Unfortunately we have to cancel our Book Club for Thursday 20 November. We're hoping to reschedule for the new year so we can still discuss Parable of the Sower - we have a lot of thoughts about it!

Join us for our Chocolate Afternoon — a fun get-together celebrating volunteering. 26 November 2025 2:00 – 4:00 pm Ledger Studio Come for the chocolate, stay for the fun — everyone’s welcome. For more information contact Cinzia at [email protected] #Volunteer #Belfast

Our last Atypical Book Club for this year is on Thursday! Join us for discussion on climate dystopia and the importance of building community, through the lens of Octavia E Butler's 'Parable of the Sower'. Thursday 20 November at 6:30 pm in University of Atypical. All welcome!

International Day of Persons with Disabilities is on 3 December. Join us for our programme of celebrations featuring artist networking, the launch of the music grant, a new exhibition opening, and our first-ever film screening. universityofatypical.org/get-involved...

We won’t be open this Thursday for Late Night Art as we’re busily installing our new exhibition. Come and see us in the Atypical Gallery from Thursday 13 November for Charys Wilson’s beautiful ‘Half Light’ exhibition. We’ll be open for Late Night Art on Thursday 4 December! buff.ly/8SKVDZC

This workshop, led by artist Charys Wilson, will delve into methods of camera-less photography, using found organic material from our natural environment. Participants will be invited to create artworks that explore the natural world.

As part of our International Day of Persons with Disabilities programme, we’re excited to bring back our Creative Networking Event for d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent artists. This time, we’re focusing on disability arts on the international stage.

Due to a Met Office weather warning, our office and gallery will be closed tomorrow 30 October. We will reopen on Friday, 31 October.

In keeping with our theme this year, Bounce 2025 was Not Just one thing. We had discussions in Belfast and in Derry~Londonderry, premiered a new piece of dance performance, took over a Belfast cafe and showcased D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent writers, comedians, singers and cabaret performers.

Bounce 2025 may have come to a close, but there's still plenty happening at University of Atypical! Stay up to date by signing up for our monthly newsletter and be the first to hear about what’s coming next. Sign up here buff.ly/JnCMASK

It is Book Week NI! Here at University of Atypical, we don’t need an excuse to chat about all things book-related. Our book club is back on 20 November with Octavia E.Butler’s Parable of the Sower.

The last day to visit the current exhibition Passages by Anushyia Sunderalingam is Wednesday 29th October. Passages reflects the embodied experience of navigating both external displacement and internal pain and the exhibition has opened a space for interesting conversations in the gallery.

Bounce wouldn’t be the same without our incredible volunteers, also known as ‘Bouncers’. Every year, they help ensure the event runs seamlessly while creating the warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes Bounce. Thank you to everyone who volunteered at this year’s Bounce

🌍 Have you thought about collaborating with an artist based overseas Are you a disabled artist living in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales? 💻 We're running online sessions on 12 Nov to answer questions about the awards and how to apply. Register your interest by Weds 22 Oct: bit.ly/4mODkjP

It's the Movement for Good Arts and Culture Special Draw and we would love if you could nominate University of Atypical (Arts & Disability Forum). If you nominate us by 19 October 2025 we could win £5000 to keep working to make the arts in Northern Ireland accessible for everyone. buff.ly/jo29Hm0

Wrap up the year in style at the Ledger Studio! We're now taking Christmas and end-of-year bookings. Whether you're planning a festive performance, a creative workshop, an end-of-year meeting, or a holiday gig, the Ledger Studio is the perfect space to make it happen.

Recruiting Freelance Access Advisor (4-5 hours per week) We are recruiting new regional Access Advisors to support arts, cultural, community and heritage organisations across Northern Ireland. Advisors will support organisations develop and implement an Accessibility Improvement Plan.

Bounce 2025 may have just ended but we are already looking ahead to next year. We invite you to get involved in Bounce 2026 from Thursday 1 October to Sunday 4 October 2026. The festival theme for Bounce 2026 is Arts and Activism.

We’re coming down from another great Bounce Festival and we’d love to know what you thought! If you were at the Festival and would like to tell us what you thought about anything, please fill in our online survey. It helps us to make plans for 2026, and show funders why we do what we do.

University of Atypical is recruiting a Finance Officer (freelance 16 hours per week; 6 month contract*). Duration of post: October 2025 - March 2026 * (subject to confirmed start date and potential continuation, subject to mutual agreement and security of funding).

Unfortunately we are no longer able to offer BSL interpretation for Sunday evening's 'Out of the Box' comedy event at the Black Box.

Event change: Unfortunately Elly Makem is no longer able to lead today's Signs of Dissent drop-in workshop, but we’re very pleased that Bailie Burrell has stepped in. Drop in to the Den (level 6) @themacbelfast.bsky.social from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm today to make your mark! Free, no booking required.

All of our Bounce Festival events this weekend are currently going ahead as planned. If you are travelling to us to attend events today or tomorrow please travel safely. You may need to leave more time for your travel.

Following Sunday's Bounce Festival screening of Witches at Queen's Film Theatre Belfast we are delighted to be joined for the Q&A by Aisling McCormick and Dr Elspeth Vischer. It should be a fascinating chat! Sunday 5 October at 3:30 pm in QFT: universityofatypical.org/bounce-2025/...

If you are a writer interested in reading at our Bounce Open Mic on Friday 3 October we have extended applications until the end of the week!

Sneak peek! Here’s a behind-the-scenes look from our upcoming Bounce 2025 feature on UTV this Friday. We can’t wait to share the full story with you soon! #BounceArtsFestival #Bounce2025 #DisabilityArts

During the Artist Residency for the Bounce Anushiya Sundaralingam will spend time in the gallery allowing the public to drop in, meet the artist and see how they work. Although has been awarded previous residencies, this is the first time she has worked through a residency with public engagement.

The Berlin Cultural Bridge team is coming to Belfast for the Bounce Arts Festival! Following the success of ‘Sick in the City’ in Berlin in August we are excited to welcome the team to Belfast.

University of Atypical is excited to be part of the relaunched Culture Night Belfast, alongside our neighbours Bbeyond! Drop in to the Ledger Studio between 5:00 and 8:30 pm on Friday 19 September to see some amazing new performance art from Bbeyond commissioned artists.