Offaly woman is driving force for new national arts centre

An Offaly woman is behind a brand new national arts centre, established to bring together artists with intellectual disabilities and afford them a platform to connect and showcase their talent.

Miriam Spollen from Tullamore, a long-time advocate of, and worker in the arts and disability sector is the founder of ‘Connections Arts Centre’, dedicated to connecting members of the disability community through the arts.

The centre is in the process of putting the finishing touches to its inaugural arts exhibition to be held at the RCSI ( Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland ) on June 26.

Ten artists have been chosen by Connections Arts Centre (CAC) are to to participate in the bold and innovative exhibition.

Miriam says that Covid was the lightening rod for her to establish CAC.

“I lost my job in 2021 due to Covid, but really it was a blessing in disguise as I now had time to develop a business idea that I had been contemplating for over 10 years. In the mist of Covid, Connections Arts Centre (an online platform) was developed to connect and support people with disabilities through the arts”.

In March CAC opened its base in Rathgar in Dublin, where it now runs a selection of training, arts, and lifestyle programmes.

“We have supported 600 participants since our inception just last year; this has been a mixture of online and in person and it has been so rewarding and encouraging to see the engagement and enthusiasm by participants. We have worked with and supported participants from organisations such as Enable Irelands, Rehab, Walk, Gheel Autism services and more," Miriam explained.

Connecting Artists 2022 was developed when Miriam spotted a need to support and highlight the work of artists with intellectual disabilities from all over Ireland.

“This programme provides an immersive, supportive and interactive environment for artists with intellectual disabilities, empowering then to develop their creative practice and to hone their natural talents. The exhibition at the RCSI is showcasing the work of ten Artists who participated in the online programme”. But this is not then end for these Artist, they are developing their own collective and will continue to meet monthly online with the support of CAC.

“There is a wonderful atmosphere amongst our online community, the artists feel part of a wider arts world which feeds their wonderful creativity and imagination. It has been great to see such positive energy and community amongst the artists.

“It’s been so fulfilling to watch so many artists support each other and develop their practice. It’s all about connections and giving the artists confidence, helping them to develop and perfect their natural creativity and highlighting their incredible talents to the wider community, while breaking down barriers.

Miriam says that the reaction to the upcoming exhibition in the RCSI is hugely positive and encouraging

“It is a wonderful achievement for the artists themselves first and foremost, and we are truly heartened by the response we are receiving from the broader public, both business and community”.

“We have received some very welcome financial support for this programme from the Bank of Ireland’s ‘Begin Together Arts Fund’ in partnership with ‘Business to Arts’

“We had a very high level of entries for the exhibition, 67 in all and the quality was superb. It was so difficult whittling the list of exhibitors down to just 10 but really all the artists who got involved in any way are beacons of light for artists with intellectual disabilities. Our plan is to run the programme again in 2023 to support a new cohort of artists”.

“We’re all so exciting about this forthcoming exhibition. The artists themselves can’t wait and we can’t wait to showcase their incredible talents”.