Northern Ireland

Four disabled artists in Northern Ireland win Chris Ledger Legacy Awards

Larry McAree, a learning disabled artist and storyteller from Belfast, will use his £5,000 Chris Ledger Legacy Awards from The University of Atypical, to create new work
Larry McAree, a learning disabled artist and storyteller from Belfast, will use his £5,000 Chris Ledger Legacy Awards from The University of Atypical, to create new work Larry McAree, a learning disabled artist and storyteller from Belfast, will use his £5,000 Chris Ledger Legacy Awards from The University of Atypical, to create new work

FOUR disabled artists in Northern Ireland have won the Chris Ledger Legacy Awards from The University of Atypical.

Held in memory of the much-loved former CEO who died in 2020, the £5,000 awards will help each of the students continue with their practice and create new work.

The awards, which are funded by Unlimited and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, recognise the major contribution Chris Ledger made to the arts and cultural sector in Northern Ireland and especially her many initiatives to support deaf, disabled, and neurodiverse artists.

Among those who won an award is Ruth McGinley, a musician and composer originally from Derry who now lives in Belfast.

Ruth will use her award to focus on creating her second album.

Larry McAree, a learning disabled artist and storyteller from Belfast, will use his award to create new work.

Shiro Masuyama, a Japanese artist who has been living in Northern Ireland since 2010, will use his award to create a new work which will take place between Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Jonny McAllister, a composer, musician and DJ from Derry, will use his award to create a new album.

Damien Coyle, chief executive of the University of Atypical - a disabled-led arts charity - said: "We are delighted with these awards being made to recognise Chris’s achievements and the inspiration she was to so many people.

"She'd be thrilled to see this level of award going to support new work by deaf, disabled and neurodiverse artists."