Open Arts is an award-winning arts & disability organisation in Northern Ireland that has been celebrating and supporting disabled people in the arts since 1992.
Our mission is to inspire and support the creative and artistic development of disabled people. Open Arts works to break down barriers and create welcoming, inclusive spaces for everyone. By combining professional skills, creative excellence, and real-life experience, Open Arts makes sure that people of all ages and abilities can take part in and shape the arts. Following the idea of “Nothing About Us, Without Us,” everything is created together with disabled people.
Core Artistic Programmes
Since 1992, we have provided an artistic programme for disabled
adults in Belfast, offering eight sessions weekly. Around 100 participants regularly enjoy accessible creative opportunities, with groups running across three terms each year.
Core Artistic Programme
Community
Choir
Open Arts Community Choir was founded in 2000, and won the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Inspiration Award in 2025. The choir has performed internationally and achieved notable success, including two gold medals and a silver diploma at the 2017 European Choir Games, and was runner-up in the 2023 Curfá Irish language choral competition. In addition to winning prestigious awards, the choir regularly participates in festivals and collaborates with other musical groups, constantly expanding their repertoire and influence. Day: Monday Time: 7pm – 9pm Location: Divis Community Centre, Ardmoulin Street, BT12 4RT
Core Artistic Programme
Visual Arts Collective
Our Visual Arts Collective is made up of three groups. It provides a warm, inclusive environment where disabled adults can experiment with diverse art forms such as painting, drawing, sculpture, and mixed media. Each group celebrates individual creativity, encouraging participants to express themselves and try out new artistic ideas within a welcoming and accessible space. The collective builds a sense of community, connection, and self-assurance by creating chances to showcase artwork, collaborate on creative projects, and interact with the broader arts community. Day: Monday Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm Location: Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Road, BT7 1NH Day: Wednesday Time: 10am – 12noon Location: Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Road, BT7 1NH Day: Thursday Time: 10am – 12noon Location: Divis Community Centre, Ardmoulin Street, BT12 4RT
Core Artistic Programme
Monday Players Drama Group
Monday Players is our long-running drama group for disabled people that develops acting, vocal, and stage skills. Members collaborate to create characters, tell stories, and perform both original and adapted plays, showcasing the creativity and talent of disabled actors. Monday Players encourages personal growth, teamwork, and a strong sense of community among its members. The group also offers opportunities to present their work to a wider audience, helping to raise awareness and promote inclusivity within the performing arts. Day: Monday Time: 2pm – 4pm Location: Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Road, BT7 1NH
Core Artistic Programme
Luminous Soul Dance Company
Luminous Soul is an innovative contemporary dance company for disabled adults, drawing inspiration from the words of Isadora Duncan, a pioneer of contemporary dance, “the dancer's body is the luminous manifestation of the soul.” Since 2009, the company has performed at prominent events and engaged in international collaborations. Luminous Soul fosters artistic growth among its members; several dancers have initiated their own inclusive projects and toured globally with other inclusive dance organisations. Day: Thursday Time: 1pm – 3pm Location: Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Road, BT7 1NH
Core Artistic Programme
Open Pen
Writing Group
The Open Pen writing group is an inclusive space for disabled adults to express themselves and improve their writing. Sessions encourage trying various forms, including poetry, short stories, and prose. The group offers opportunities to connect with others, gain confidence in sharing work, and receive constructive feedback. Through these activities, members can develop their unique voices and form meaningful connections within the community. Day: Wednesday Time: 2pm – 3.30pm Location: Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Road, BT7 1NH
Core Artistic Programme
Javanese Gamelan Group
Javanese Gamelan is accessible to all, with its instruments offering a relaxing experience through soothing vibrations and resonant sounds. We run a weekly group and provide workshops for disability organisations. The ensemble features a variety of traditional instruments such as metallophones, drums, and gongs, each contributing unique textures to the music. Participants can enjoy playing together in an inclusive, supportive environment that encourages creativity and social connection. Day: Wednesday Time: 2pm – 2.45pm (beginners) 3pm – 4pm (advanced) Location: Vault Artist Studios, 39 Corporation Street, BT1 3BA
Photo gallery
A snapshot of our recent events and programmes.
Community Projects
Creative initiatives engaging disabled people in the arts.
Community Projects
Takeaway
Theatre
Takeaway Theatre offers interactive performances in homes or small groups for disabled individuals. It empowers participants and their families to co-create dramas from their own stories, providing a creative experience focused on engagement and enjoyment. The program’s flexible, personalized approach allows each session to be tailored to the unique interests, abilities, and comfort levels of those involved. By collaborating closely with participants, Takeaway Theatre not only fosters artistic expression but also helps build confidence, communication skills, and a sense of belonging. These intimate performances encourage meaningful connections between performers and audiences, making the arts accessible and relevant in a supportive environment where every voice is valued.
Community Projects
Creative Horizons
Arts Awards
Open Arts is proud to be one of only six Arts Award Centres in Northern Ireland. Arts Award, accredited by Trinity College London, provides unique qualifications to support children and young people to develop as artists, arts leaders, and creative thinkers. Arts Award is open to anyone 25 and under, and embraces all interests and backgrounds. Through hands-on participation in a wide variety of arts challenges, participants are encouraged to explore new art forms, collaborate with peers, and gain confidence in their creative abilities. We offer these awards as part of our own projects. Through Arts Award young people learn to work independently, helping them to prepare for further education and employment. We also partner with other creative organisations that work with young people, extending the reach of the Arts Award and supporting the next generation of artists. By fostering opportunities for artistic growth and leadership, our role as an Arts Award Centre helps break down barriers to arts education and ensures that every young person has the chance to shine.
Community Projects
Creative
Communities
Accessible workshop delivery and project support. Open Arts delivers creative workshops for disability organisations throughout Northern Ireland, engaging with participants of all ages and abilities. These workshops are designed to be inclusive and accessible, offering a variety of art forms such as music, dance, drama, and visual arts. By tailoring activities to the needs and interests of each group, Open Arts ensures that everyone can explore their creativity in a supportive environment. We also support disability organisations in preparing and submitting funding applications, helping to expand accessible arts programmes and secure resources for ongoing inclusive, creative initiatives.
Meet the Team
Eileen Branagh
CEO/Artistic Director
Eileen brings over 25 years of experience in the arts sector, with a strong focus on inclusive, high-impact creative projects. She has led the organisation since 2013 and delivered a wide range of accessible, participatory performances and projects each year—spanning multiple art forms and scales. Her journey with Open Arts began in 2002–2003 as Production Manager for Solstice, a landmark performance featuring over 180 performers with learning disabilities, staged at the Special Olympics World Games Opening Ceremony in Croke Park. From 2003 to 2013, Eileen was Manager at Beat Carnival, where she spearheaded the production of major outdoor events and carnivals, and led collaborative arts projects across Europe, building cross-cultural connections and large-scale public engagement. In 2019, she completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Executive Leadership from Ulster University, adding to her strong leadership experience in the arts. In 2026 she joined the board of Down Community Arts.
Jemma Robinson
Programme & Operations Manager
Jemma has been an important part of the team since 2015, bringing over 15 years’ experience in the arts combining strong financial skills, creativity, and a commitment to making the arts accessible to everyone. In 2026 she received the Anne O'Donoghue Award, enabling mentorship with TramShed Theatre Company to develop her practice as an Arts Award Adviser specialising in supporting SEND young people to Gold level. She also completed the Inclusive Cultures Programme with Clore Leadership in 2024, reflecting her dedication to fairness and diversity in the arts, and earned an ILM Level 5 Leadership and Management Diploma through NICVA in 2023. Before joining Open Arts, Jemma worked with Young at Art and ArtsEkta, contributing to event delivery, participant engagement, and the creation of meaningful cultural experiences.
Mark Cousins
Communication and Development Assistant.
Mark joined Open Arts in 2024 he brings creativity and a strong focus on making the arts more accessible. As an autistic person, he is a passionate advocate for disabled and neurodiverse communities, using his own experiences to support more inclusive ways of working and communicating. He has completed Plain English training to help make Open Arts’ messages clear and easy to understand for everyone. Mark plays an important role in shaping the organisation’s voice, is authentic and makes a real impact. Before joining Open Arts, Mark worked with the University of Atypical and studied Fine Art at Ulster University, where he earned a degree with a Diploma, focusing on sculpture and performance. His artistic background helps guide his approach to storytelling, advocacy, and inclusive communication.
Our Faciliators
Disability Training
and Representation
Advocacy, Learning and representation through the arts
Chatting for Change Training Programme
Chatting for Change is the transformational new training programme which Open Arts is now offering to businesses, organisations and local authorities across Northern Ireland. What we do: Presented by our Lived Experience Team - trained facilitators who have a range of disability lived experience – Chatting for Change offers unique insight, disability expertise, and lively interaction between trainers and participants in a package which is tailored to your business needs. Why we do it: Northern Ireland is legally required to be accessible, however practical experiences vary widely. Disabled individuals in Northern Ireland – including our Lived Experience Team – frequently encounter obstacles when trying to access information, jobs, products or services. This means that not only are some disabled people losing out on experiences which are open to other people in society, but some businesses and organisations are – whether consciously or unconsciously – excluding potential staff, customers and clients and losing out on knowledge, expertise and revenue. Why it works: ●Real stories make a real impact - it is easier to understand and empathise with the experience of disabled people when you hear directly from someone who lives it every day. ●Tailored for your team - Open Arts can create a specific session to fit your organisation’s needs, size and sector, ensuring that the training is effective for you. ●Safe and guided - sessions are led by facilitators with lived experience of disability, to ensure everyone feels safe and respected. ●Making accessibility accessible - we can show you simple, cost-effective ways to overcome accessibility barriers to your business or organisation. Find out more: ●For businesses and organisations: Chatting for Change brings inclusivity to life for business participants through role play, case studies, practical tips and tricks and by looking at language. ●For training organisations: The Lived Experience Team can also add value to sessions from existing training providers by co-hosting workshops on disability, neurodiversity and inclusive practice. To talk to us about Chatting for Change and how your business, organisation or local authority can benefit, contact sarah@openartsni.org or call Open Arts on tel. 028 90240765.
Inclusive Event Production
Many organisations are committed to delivering accessible events and recognise the importance of getting it right. Open Arts supports this ambition by bringing together specialist access expertise, lived experience insight, creativity, and high-quality event production skills. We bridge the gap between inclusion and delivery, ensuring accessibility is embedded from the earliest planning stages through to the final experience. By combining professionalism with strong cross-sector networks, we create events that are welcoming, imaginative, and seamlessly delivered. Partner feedback consistently shows that working with Open Arts enhances audience experience, strengthens organisational reputation, and provides confidence in meeting equality duties in meaningful and impactful ways.
Inclusive Event Entertainment and Empowering Speakers
Our event services feature the talent, creativity, and distinct perspectives of disabled performers, bringing added value to conferences and events. By highlighting disabled artists, speakers, and entertainers, we assist clients in designing events that are engaging, memorable, and authentically inclusive. Incorporating disabled talent reflects a genuine commitment to accessibility and diversity, helping organisations broaden their reach while promoting positive representation and challenging stereotypes. By showcasing disabled artists, speakers, and entertainers, we can help you create events that are not only engaging and memorable, but also genuinely representative and inclusive.
Support us
By supporting Open Arts we can continue to engage with disabled people to deliver high quality activities and events across a range of art forms so disabled people can develop a sense of identity, connection and belonging, which increases their confidence and encourages physical, emotional, mental, and social wellbeing.
You can make a donation through PayPal.
To make a more substantial donation please contact our CEO Eileen Branagh at Eileen@openartsni.org
Principal funder
Our principle funder is the Arts Council of Northern Ireland through their Annual Funding Programme.
We have a wonderful list of funders and partners that support our work, thanks to Arts and Heritage Multi Annual Funding from Belfast City Council and core programme funding from Halifax Foundation Northern Ireland and Garfield Weston Foundation, D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and the True Colours Trust.
Partners and friends
Memberships
