KCC to showcase the Athy Billboard Project to promote universal access in Kildare

Kildare County Council (KCC) is set to showcase the Athy Billboard Project in order to promote universal access throughout County Kildare.

In association with Creative Places Athy and the Athy Disability Access Group, KCC has said that it is 'delighted to announce details of The Athy Billboard Project.'

A spokesperson for KCC explained that the project is 'a creative and informative initiative to promote universal access in Kildare.'

They continued: "Creative Places Athy carried out a commission competition seeking an artist/collective to create work which challenges us all to think, act and develop creative and innovative solutions for people with disabilities who experience barriers to access in Athy town.

"Artist and Illustrator Ciara Chapman was the successful applicant in the Athy Access Commission competition, for her Athy Billboard Project proposal.

"Ciara has worked with three groups in Athy: the Irish Wheelchair Association, KARE Central Services and The Dara Project over a period of three months to create the project."

The spokesperson continued: "The Athy Billboard project comprises a series of 7 billboards which have the participants voices at the heart of the message. 

"The billboards are on display on Leinster Street in Athy now, until February 14, 2024.

The launch of the Athy Billboard Project coincides with Kildare Disability Week which will run from November 27 to the December, 4 which also incorporates International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3.

"The project aims to encourage people to consider the barriers to access that exist in our communities and develop new ways of working; accessibility means removing barriers, which affect many people, and which can be physical, mental, and attitudinal in nature."

In addition, the spokesperson further said: "The Athy Access Commission opportunity aligns with the aims of Creative Places Athy to embed a rich, supportive and sustainable culture for socially engaged art and to grow existing synergies between artists and communities.

"The commission is also developed with the County Kildare Access Strategy in mind and supports the development of an awareness campaign to highlight accessibility/disability within KCC."

"It was developed under one of the six themes of the County Kildare Access Strategy, that of partnership and collaboration, the key objective of which is to continue to develop partnerships with service providers and organisations representing disabled people, other agencies and non-government organisations," the spokesperson concluded.