The Distinguished Graduate of the Year Award is sponsored by Allstate Northern Ireland and recognises graduates for outstanding achievement in their chosen field.
Damien is the Chief Executive and Artistic Director for the University of Atypical (UofA). UofA is a disabled-led arts charity, taking an empowerment-based approach towards supporting disabled, D/deaf, and neurodivergent people’s involvement in the arts.
In his work with UofA Damien designed and managed the d/Deaf and Disabled Artists Support Fund on behalf of Department for Communities and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland distributing £300,000 to arts practitioners during the Covid pandemic.
He has been leading UofA through a change management process including the launch of the Ledger Studio for Performing Arts and the Equality and Access Standards Initiative to support arts organisations in enhancing their equality, access and inclusion processes.
Damien was appointed to the Culture, Arts and Heritage Covid Recovery Task Force by the Minister for Communities.
He has served in management and leadership roles across the arts, education, public and voluntary sectors including the posts of:
- Head of Operations for the Community Fund
- New Opportunities Fund and Big Lottery Fund
- Deputy Director of the Stroke Association
In 2013 as part of the Derry/Londonderry City of Culture programme he created the award winning ‘Stroke City’ project with stroke survivors and carers.
Soon after graduating from Ulster University Damien established Queen St Studios, the first group studios in Ireland, giving the lead for many more artists’ groups, studios and exhibition spaces to emerge.
He established the PGD /MA Course in Cultural Management at Ulster University, has been Chair of the Arts and Disability Forum, Circa Arts Magazine and Kabosh Theatre Company, and was Vice Chair of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland from 2008-2016.
An award-winning practicing visual artist, Damien’s significant contribution to the Arts in Northern Ireland was recognised by an MBE awarded in 2016. Damien is disabled, neurodivergent, and has experienced hearing loss since early adulthood.
Each year a bespoke trophy is designed and produced by an Ulster graduate from the Belfast School of Art.
This year’s designer is 2021 Belfast School of Art graduate, Tracey Johnston.
Kindly sponsored by Allstate Northern Ireland
