Connections Arts Centre empowers adults with disabilities through art

The Connections Arts Centre in Rathgar empowers adults with intellectual disabilities and neurodivergent individuals through inclusive art programmes, fostering community connection, education and personal growth

Add to preferred sources News Stephen Holland Local Democracy Reporter 17:30, 15 Oct 2026 View 3 Images An artist displays their work (Image: Connections Art Centre)

Adults with intellectual disabilities and neurodivergent people are discovering the power of community and creativity in Rathgar.

The Connections Arts Centre is empowering individuals to overcome the barriers they face daily and to learn, grow and connect through the arts. Having already supported 3,406 class participants in recent years, founder and CEO Miriam Spollen outlined their goals of providing a safe and accessible place for some of society's most vulnerable to come together without fear or judgement.

Speaking at Dublin City Council’s South East Area Committee meeting this week, Ms Spollen outlined the history of the centre, which began online during the pandemic with workshops supporting adults with disabilities . What started as Instagram tips showcasing the creative potential of household items, grew into a physical space on Rathgar Road boasting a variety of classes and programmes.

Ms Spollen explained that having a permanent home in Rathgar allows them to build ongoing relationships with those who use their services while opening pathways for those with disabilities to explore education and employment opportunities. One such person is Michael, a young man who Ms Spollen revealed was able to discover himself as an artist through the services the centre offered.

After taking part in a ten week programme, Michael joined their public art classes and saw his work exhibited in places like the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts (RHA). Now a student at TU Dublin, Ms Spollen believes Michael embodies the very ethos of their work and stands as just one of the many success stories overseen by the Connections Arts Centre.

Operations Manager Barry Mocke revealed the centre is now supporting 40 artists and has actively engaged with other parts of the community. A Transition Year programme sees secondary school students volunteer as learning buddies while providing one-to-one support to adults with disabilities.

“We see the impact for Transition Year students as well as they build confidence and leadership skills. They leave with an understanding of the value and contribution of people with disabilities in their community. These are our future leaders and that experience can shape how they think about inclusion long into the future,” Mr Mocke said.

View 3 Images Artist Rachel shares her work (Image: Connections Arts Centre)

The goals of the Connections Arts Centre is to help empower the 22% of people in Ireland who live with a disability. Ms Spollen highlighted the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which seeks to move people out of segregated campuses and into spaces where they actively participate in their community.

This work is propped up by creative classes, exhibitions and events, as well as paid internships for creatives with disabilities. Their ambition is for the location in Rathgar to be more than a venue and instead be a place where inclusive contemporary arts can be seen, shared and sustained.

A testimonial from artist Jennifer Humphreys spoke about the struggles faced by those with disabilities. She studied art in college for five years, but said the resources for people like her were not there.

“My experience overall back then was we were enough, but the art world didn’t let us be enough. Connections Arts made us be who we are. Some people come into this programme and they haven’t done art in years - they haven’t gone to art class,” she said.

“They’re just in a day centre and they do things. Look at them now, exhibiting in the RHA.”

View 3 Images Jennifer Humphreys from the CAC Artist Collective (Image: Connections Arts Centre)

Dublin councillors commended the work of Connections Arts Centre and supported ongoing engagement between the service and council. Labour Cllr Fiona Connelly praised the service as one that benefits everyone in the community. She said it extends far beyond simply creating art, as the classes form a network of positive engagement among all who attend.

Independent Cllr Mannix Flynn said the arts community is one that is filled with people with disabilities as it offers a space where creative people can get comfort and satisfaction without judgement. He called for the council to offer “whatever funding you need” to continue the work they do.

He called for steps to be put in place to allow communities across Dublin and the country to benefit from the work of the Connections Arts Centre. “If it doesn’t come from the ground up, then it comes from nowhere,” he stated.

Ms Spollen thanked the committee for their support and said it is important to them to spread awareness about the work they do. While the Connections Arts Centre has made great strides in developing their earned income over the years, she said support from the government and core funding is needed for them to continue to grow as a social enterprise.

More information on the work of the Connections Arts Centre can be found at: https://www.connectionsartscentre.ie/

This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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