The Arts Council of Northern Ireland profiled several women working in the arts sector during International Women’s Week ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8. The organisation spotlighted individuals including Eibhlín De Barra, director of Young at Art; musician Aoife Boyle, known as Reevah from Derry~Londonderry; poet Cat Brogan from Omagh; and visual artist Sharon Kelly.

Eibhlín De Barra has led Young at Art for 10 years and supported 15 Belfast Children’s Festivals since 2011. The current Belfast Children’s Festival, funded by the Arts Council, continues until March 14. Young at Art delivered education and engagement programmes to 36 schools last year, reaching over 1,700 children and young people.

Aoife Boyle released her debut album Daylight Savings, nominated for Album of the Year at the Northern Ireland Music Prize. She co-founded FUSE arts in Derry~Londonderry and received Arts Council support for new work. Her second album secured the PPL Momentum Fund.

Cat Brogan won the Belfast Poetry Cup in 2008. She co-founded Omagh Pride in 2021 and runs Rainbow Writes, a creative writing initiative funded by the Arts Council. A Rainbow Writes showcase takes place on March 27 at Strule Arts Centre. Brogan hosts an International Women’s Day event this weekend at the same venue.

Sharon Kelly received the 2023 Arts Council Major Individual Award. She has practiced visual arts since the late 1980s, working in drawing, painting, print, sculpture, and installation. She recently led workshops for young people through the Arts Council’s Art Lending Scheme for Schools.