Congratulations to the Arts & Culture category finalists:
Aisling Byrne (Run of the Mill Theatre) - Kildare
Run of The Mill is an award-winning inclusive theatre based in Co. Kildare which supports people with intellectual disabilities in accessing theatre and film as makers, artists, participants, and audiences. Thanks to Good Causes funding, Aisling Byrne wrote and produced a short film, performed by members of the Run of the Mill ensemble. This film will be shown at both national and international film festivals, continuing to increase the visibility of people with intellectual disabilities, telling their stories and in doing so encouraging and inspiring other people with intellectual disabilities to get involved in the arts.
Caoilinn Handley– Dublin
Caoilinn Handley is an autistic activist and filmmaker who has been working professionally in the film industry since 2018, who has witnessed and experienced first-hand how inaccessible it is to people with autism. Thanks to Good Causes funding received through the Arts Council, she was able to carry out in-depth research into disabled/neurodivergent and autistic cast and crew in Ireland. Through this research, Caoilinn has now partnered with Screen Ireland and Aspire to create a pilot scheme to get more people with autism out working in large scale productions, something that is hugely beneficial to the autistic community.
Mother Tongues– Dublin
The Mother Tongues Festival is the largest festival celebrating linguistic and cultural diversity through the arts in Ireland. Their mission is to create a welcoming creative space where artists and families get together to inspire all children to embrace different languages and cultures. The Mother Tongues Festival has been part-funded by National Lottery Good Causes via The Arts Council since its first edition in 2018.
The Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig - Monaghan
The Tyrone Guthrie Centre is a residential workspace for local, national, and international artists who work across a wide variety of disciplines from all cultures and economic backgrounds. Good Causes funding received through the Arts Council allowed the centre to provide a home from home to artists across all art forms allowing the practitioners the space to think and have time to make, collaborate and be amongst other artists.
Waterford High Hopes Choir - Waterford
In 2014, the Waterford High Hopes Choir was set up with members from McGuire House Men’s Hostel, Focus Ireland, Simon Community, Tintain and Oasis Women’s refuge. The choir empowers its members, whose lives have been affected by homelessness, through music and enables them to work in the community by singing at events. Funding received from the HSE National Lottery Scheme enabled the choir to organise and participate in a community event.