Failing to practice the art of inclusion for people with intellectual disability

YOU have got to make a trip to Cork. The city is looking beautiful (of course) and it’s full of life. It seems as if the people of the Rebel County are thumbing their nose at the recession, and getting on with things as they always did. Streets are busy, restaurants and bars are hopping, there’s a lot of colour about.

Especially in the Crawford Art Gallery. If nothing else drags you down to the real capital, you’ve got to see the Outside In exhibition. I promise you, you’ll be blown away. There’s technique, passion, vibrancy. Wander around (there’s a few days left), and you’ll be entirely captivated. It might not even occur to you (unless you read the catalogue) that this is entirely the work of people with an intellectual disability.

I was there last Thursday, because I had kindly been invited to do the opening. So I got there a bit early, to see the work and try to meet some of the artists. There’s art from Amsterdam, New York and Brighton. But there is also amazing, stunning work from Cork City, Youghal, and Callan in Co Kilkenny.