A new grant scheme has been launched to support d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent (DDN) music creators in Belfast. Developed by University of Atypical in partnership with Belfast City Council, the Sounds Atypical Music Awards provides £25,000 in funding aimed at creating more opportunities for DDN artists and helping to make the local music scene more accessible.

The scheme has awarded funding to six artists and collectives from Northern Ireland, spanning different genres, experience levels and backgrounds. The support will help these creators develop new work, run accessible events and connect more directly with audiences and the wider music community.

A key focus of the initiative is improving access across the board. The supported events will feature access measures such as British Sign Language (BSL), Irish Sign Language (ISL), audio description, step-free venue access, quiet spaces and accessible toilet facilities. An additional £5,000 access fund has been set aside to support these elements, ensuring that accessibility is built into events from the outset rather than added as an afterthought.

University of Atypical, a disabled-led arts charity based in Belfast, has a long-standing track record of supporting DDN artists across a range of disciplines. The Sounds Atypical Music Awards mark one of the organisation’s most significant moves into the music space to date. With a focus on practical support and long-term inclusion, the scheme reflects the organisation’s wider aim to remove the barriers that often prevent disabled and neurodivergent people from fully participating in cultural life.


Speaking at the initiative’s launch, which took place during the Sound of Belfast 2024 programme, Lord Mayor of Belfast Micky Murray said, “We’re delighted to be funding the Sounds Atypical event as part of the 10th Sound of Belfast Festival. Belfast is proud to be the first UNESCO City of Music on the island of Ireland, and making music more accessible is an important focus for how we further develop Belfast’s music experience for both residents and visitors.”

Artists supported through the scheme include DJ Gems, DJ Con Rob, and DJ Esclimo via Mencap, as well as Ursula Burns, Ruth Bate, Hannah Richardson, Eugene McPeake and The Black Box’s Mark McDonnell and William McClean. Each project will take a different approach to improving access and creative visibility, from inclusive club nights to experimental performances and skills development.

Edel Murphy, CEO and Artistic Director of University of Atypical, said, “This is such an exciting time for the organisation as we embark on this substantial new initiative. Barriers to taking part can often stop disabled people from enjoying the music sector in Belfast. We hope to address these barriers through this new grant scheme and encourage musicians who are d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent to apply.”

As the funded projects roll out in 2025, the Sounds Atypical Music Awards are set to offer a valuable blueprint for accessible practice in the Northern Ireland music sector. More broadly, they highlight the need for long-term change in how we support and include all music creators and audiences across the board.

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