Entertainment

Belfast Exposed's Mervyn and circus artist Hannah get £5k Arts Council awards

Mervyn Smyth of Belfast Exposed and aerialist Hannah Anderson with Gilly Campbell of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Mervyn Smyth of Belfast Exposed and aerialist Hannah Anderson with Gilly Campbell of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Mervyn Smyth of Belfast Exposed and aerialist Hannah Anderson with Gilly Campbell of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland

MERVYN Smyth of Belfast Exposed Photography, and circus artist Hannah Anderson have each been awarded £5,000 National Lottery funding by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

The career development awards are presented in memory of Mike Moloney, co-founder of the Belfast Community Circus School and Anne O’Donoghue, director of Play Resource Warehouse, two of the arts sector’s most high-profile figures, who passed away in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

The awards were established under the existing Support for the Individual Artist Programme as part of the Arts Council’s commitment to support artists. Each recipient will now use the funding towards a project that will impact their professional careers.

Hannah will travel to Guadalajara, Mexico, for a six-month residency where she will be mentored by Yazmin Gonzalez of leading aerial performance company NMOR Espectaculos y Multimedi.

Mervyn will use his award to develop his skills working with people in the mental health sector using photography, bringing this experience back to his role as community engagement manager with Belfast Exposed.

Gilly Campbell of the Arts Council said: “Both Mike and Anne contributed a huge amount to the life and legacy of the arts in Northern Ireland and we are delighted to make these two awards available in their memory to artists in support of their artistic careers.”

:: For information on all funding opportunities visit artscouncil-ni.org