We champion Arts, Lifestyle, and Community Education programmes that promote inclusion, bridge educational gaps, and counteract devaluation for people with disabilities.

  • Two Creative TY Participants (a man with dark hair, and a girl in a school uniform) posing one in front of the other, holding open the Creative TY Connections Programme Impact Report Summary. The document is bright yellow.

    Creative TY Connections Impact Report 2025

    Our 2025 Impact report celebrates the profound impact of the Creative TY Connections programme to date and presents a vision for its future. Click the button below to access our Impact report video and the full 2025 report.

    Access the report
  • Connecting artists logo, a yellow 'c' with multi coloured circles around it.

    Connecting Artists Exhibition

    Thank you for joining us!

    But if you were unable to attend…

    Please click the button below to view images from the exhibition, purchase artwork, and access links to media coverage.

    Hosted at the Royal College of Surgeons, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin and opened by out champion Presenter Miriam O’Callaghan.

    This exhibition showcased original artwork by the artists from the Connecting Artists 2025 programme — a national initiative supporting visual artists with intellectual disabilities and neurodivergent artists.

    Click here to learn more
  • Universal Accessibility logo, a white icon of a person with a white circle around them on a light blue background.

    Accessible Communication Training

    Our practical programmes educate organisations in how to make their in-house and public-facing communications more accessible, increasing awareness of the needs of people living with disabilities, and assisting in creating a working environment that is more inclusive of people with disabilities.

    Open to organisation's, community groups and businesses alike, we offer in-person and online upskilling. Learn more about our upskilling programme offerings by clicking the button below.

    Learn More
  • Logo of atypical gallery and connecting artists programme

    CA Collective Exhibition at Atypical Gallery

    Free to attend

    Opening night 7th August 5pm-9pm

    Connecting Artists Collective exhibition. On view at Atypical Gallery at the University of Atypical, Belfast.

    Exhibition on view 7th-28th August

    Atypical Gallery:

    Ground Floor, Cathedral Quarter Workspaces, 109-113 Royal Avenue, Belfast BT1 1FF

    No Booking Required, Free to Attend

    Opening Hours:

    11am-4pm Tuesday-Friday

    Click button below to find out more about the Connecting Artists Collective.

    Click Here to Learn More
  • Colourful arts supplies on a table, including pencils, water colour paints, and large tubs of paint.

    Rathgar Classes

    We run weekly public Arts and Lifestyle classes in Rathgar, that are inclusive of everyone.

    Current classes include Art, Drama, and Yoga.

    Click on the button below to find out more, and to book a class.

    On the second Monday of every month we host a live music session from 12pm to 1 pm. Everyone is welcome and the session is free of charge.

    Upcoming Live Music Session (Free)

    Monday 8th September

    Upcoming events: 13th October and 10th November

    Groups of 10 or more are asked to book in, using button below.

    Learn More and Book
  • A group of 25 people, some sitting and some standing, holding up certificates they received from completing a Connections Arts Centre programme.

    Bespoke Programmes

    As experts in the design and development of Arts, Lifestyle, Mentoring, and Training programmes for the disability community, Connections Arts Centre collaborates with many disability organisations, designing bespoke programmes to suit their needs. These programmes can be delivered in our centre in Rathgar, in a location chosen by the organisation, or via online delivery methods.

    Learn More
  • Miriam O' Callaghan (centre, in a red suit with blonde hair) standing on an entrance staircase with 10 artists from the 2023 Connecting Artists Programme. Everyone is holding a piece of artwork.

    Supporting The Community

    The interim standards for the New Directions report (HSE, updated 2018) recommends that organisations that support adults with disabilities “recognise that value of creative expression and support people to access and participate in New Directions Services and Supports for Adults with Disabilities, opportunities for creative and self-expression within their local community”.

    Connections Arts Centre offering is central to helping such organisation’s meet this requirement.

    Learn More

Three Core Pillars

  • A black and white icon of a pencil drawing a lightbulb. The text reads 'Creativity. We use creative techniques to stimulate engaging and innovative learning environments'.
  • A black and white icon of two houses side by side, with a sun and a tree. The text reads 'Community. We create truly inclusive spaces'.
  • A black and white icon of a person standing in front of a graph with a yellow arrow moving upwards. The text reads 'Change. We change the perception and visibility of the disability community in our communities'.

Our Impact in the Community

2022 - 2023 we supported:

30 Artists

3 National Exhibitions

2024 we aim to support:

50 Artists

4 National Exhibitions

In Rathgar we support:

4 weekly programmes

1755 class participants since March 2021

We collaborate with and support:

10+ disability organisations

Our Creative TY Connections Programme supports:

40 Participants and 52 TY Students

Our Bespoke programmes:

3 programmes; 240 people

A group of young men and women wearing black 'Connections Arts Centre' t-shirts, smiling and huddled together.

Get Involved and make a difference

There are many ways to show your support for individuals with disabilities. Click the button below to find out how you can get involved today!

Make a donation

As a not-for-profit Social Enterprise. We believe in business for good.

By supporting us, you are in turn helping us to support the wider Disability Community. Click the button below to make a donation.

Donate

 

A group of Creative TY Connections Participants (some TY students in uniform, and some disabled participants) posing with a piece of artwork of a dog. Three girls hold a sign in the back reading 'Connections Arts Centre'.

Our Collaborators

  • Social Impact Ireland Logo. 'Social Impact Ireland' is written in a teal text, with a magenta circular arrow pointing towards it.
  • RHA Logo. A black square with the white text 'RHA Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts'.
  • Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards 2021 written in white text on a blue background.
  • Rethink Ireland Logo. Black text 'Rethink Ireland' in capital letters on a yellow background. The 'n' in 'Rethink' is facing backwards.
  • Enable Ireland Logo. An orange and yellow oblong shape with the text 'Enable Ireland, Disability Services, Life with no limits'.
  • The Dormant Accounts Fund logo. At the top right, there is an orange circular emblem composed of arrows and crescents. The text reads in Irish ' Ciste na gcuntas díomhaoin.' Beneath it, the English text 'the dormant accounts fund'.
  • RCSI logo. To the left, there is a crest featuring a shield with a red and white design, flanked by two deer standing upright on their hind legs. To the right of the crest, the text 'ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS IRELAND' is written in uppercase.
  • Dublin South City Partnership logo. On the left, a diamond shaped design made up of four curved lines that connect at the corners. Each line is a different shade of blue/green. On the right the text reads 'Dublin South City Partnership' in green.
  • Down Syndrome Dublin logo. The text 'Down Syndrome Dublin' is positioned to the right of two overlapping hand silhouettes, reaching out. The design contains purple and blue elements.
  • Cybersafe Kids logo. 'Cybersafe kids' is written in black and yellow uppercase text. To the left, there is a shield icon, one half yellow, one half blue. Inside the shield are three dots arranged like a speech bubble.
  • Pobal logo. On the left side there is a pink circular graphic with a group of stylised human figures inside it. The word 'pobal' is written in lowercase tot he right. Below the logo, the text reads 'government supporting communities'.
  • Rehab Group Logo. The text 'Rehab Group' is written with 'rehab' in dark blue and 'group in light blue' Beneath it, smaller light blue texts reads 'Investing in People, Changing Perspectives'.
  • Government of Ireland logo. On the left side is a golden harp. There is a vertical line separating it from the text. To the right, the teal text reads ' Rialtas na hÉireann' in Irish, and 'Government of Ireland' in English.
  • Dublin City Council logo. Three light blue icons of castles are on the right, separated from the text by a vertical grey line. The grey text on the right reads 'Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath'. Beneath it, blue text reads 'Dublin City Council'
  • A yellow four pointed star is to the left hand side of the text 'The Community Foundation for Ireland'. The text is white on a navy background.
  • Sogeti logo. 'sogeti' is displayed in lowercase letters blue, with he dot of the 'i' being red. Beneath it lies the text 'Part of Capgemini'. A blue geometric shape resembling a spade or leaf is positioned to the right.
  • Creative Ireland Programme Logo. On the left side, gold text reads 'Clár Éire Ildánach' in Irish. Beneath it in English 'Creative Ireland Programme 2017-2022'. There is a geometric golden 'CI' to the right.
  • Triest Press Logo. White lowercase text reading 'triest press' against a red background. Above it are multicoloured swoops resembling a banana.
  • University of Atypical Logo. To the left are two semi circles, one pink and one teal. Beneath the teal semi circle lies the text 'University of Atypical' in uppercase font.
  • Terenure Enterprise Centre Logo. 'Terenure Enterprise Centre' is written to the right in blue text. To the left are four icons of green leaves forming a square shape.
  • Art Source Cork Logo. 'Art Source Cork' is written in yellow bold uppercase letters against a magenta background.
  • Cheeverstown House Logo. 'Cheeverstown' is written in all uppercase letters to the right in a serif script. To the right, three icons of circles with semi circles outside each one resemble a shamrock shape.
  • Bank of Ireland Logo. There are three pieces of text divided by two blue vertical lines. Left:'Bank of Ireland' underneath three wavy blue lines. Middle: 'Begin Together, Arts Fund'. Right text: 'Business to Arts Developing Creative Partnerships'.