CORK.- Simon Mckeown, renowned international artist, will present a free live art event during Cork’s Culture Night 2015, as one of three “Ignite” commissions, which represent the largest ever investment in Ireland’s arts and disability sector. Cork Ignite will showcase a dazzling mix of technologies; riverside buildings will be brought to life through wild projections and an accompanying music score.

Simon will be working with the National Sculpture Factory and Create, along with Cork-based disability organisations Suisha Inclusive Arts at COPE Foundation and SoundOUT, to produce a spectacular event that will dazzle thousands of on-lookers on Friday September 18th. He says of the Ignite commission, “My aim is to create, in collaboration with different groups, a hugely exciting event and body of work in Cork and for this work to be seen as a fundamental stepping stone in the perception and production of art which touches on, or considers disability. Partnership and collaboration are key to what I do”

Simon has over 25 years of professional creative experience, and was awarded his own prestigious Cultural Olympiad/London 2012 Festival commission, which represented a watershed moment for contemporary disability art. Simon’s work is often process-based, and he is committed to inclusion and collaboration through his practice, working with artists with disabilities. His work is a reflection of his interest, knowledge and experience of disability and in particular society’s view of ‘normality’ and ‘difference’. Simon also draws from his own personal experience having been born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a condition causing extremely fragile bones.

Ignite is a new platform designed to generate Ireland’s most ambitious showcasing of talent from people with disabilities, led by international and Irish artists and performers with disabilities, with projects taking place in 2014 and 2015 in Cork, Galway and Mayo. These commissions each represent an investment of up to €60,000. The initiative will conclude with a tour of one of the resulting works to all three counties (and beyond) in 2015.

Ignite is managed by a unique partnership involving the Arts Council, Arts & Disability Ireland (ADI), Cork City Council, Galway City and County Councils, and Mayo County Council.

Audience Advisory: Please be aware that there will be some flashing lights.