Press Release NCAD Access Programme
NCAD Access Programme shortlisted for Ulster Bank Skills and Opportunities Fund
Friday, 2nd November 2018
NCAD calls on public to vote for scheme supporting access students.
The National College of Art and Design (NCAD) is appealing to the public to support its bid to secure funding under the latest round of the Ulster Bank Skills and Opportunities Fund by voting for its Access Programme.
If successful in its bid, funding will go towards the Clancy Quay Artist Studio: Professional Enterprise Programme, which offers graduates from NCAD’s Access Programme the opportunity to participate in a 12-month programme of professional skills and training in cultural entrepreneurship and financial literacy.
NCAD’s Access Programme, which commenced in 2005, offers support for entry and progression into higher education in art and design to those who, due to disability or socio-economic disadvantage, may experience barriers in accessing third-level education.
Commenting, Director of NCAD, Sarah Glennie said: “Our Access Programme seeks to increase the number of students currently underrepresented in third-level art and design education, and the Clancy Quay Artists Studio initiative is an extension of that programme, providing disadvantaged emerging and early career artists with the tools to become confident creative entrepreneurs in the art world.
“We are calling on everybody to give us their vote so we can resource and further develop the 12-month programme in the Clancy Quay Studio.”
Among the recent graduates from the Clancy Quay Artist Studio programme are Eileen Kenny and Pat Curran, who were supported by the Access Programme at NCAD and both graduated with MFA in Painting.
Commenting on the programme, Ms Kenny said: “I was extremely lucky to have been chosen as one of the artists to work in the Clancy Quay Artists Studio. Working in my living room for the past few years, I was quite limited with the size of work I could create and the type of material I could use. I was given the time to work out new methods to create 3D works which I never figured before.”
Mr Curran added: “My career as an artist has been enhanced by working in Clancy Quay Studio. Having such a space to work in has given me the peace and quiet to paint which I took full advantage of during my residency. As well as being a well-lit complex, being part of an artistic community has allowed me to grow in confidence, stay connected to the art world and to produce work on a regular basis.”
Votes for projects shortlisted under the Ulster Bank Skills and Opportunities Fund can be cast here: http://skillsandopportunitiesfund.ulsterbank.com/vote/.
Voting closes on Friday, 9th November 2018.
ENDS
Contact: Sebastian Enke / Eleanor McGovern, DHR Communications, Tel: 01-4200580 / 087-3239496 / 083-4890321
