Project Ability is delighted to announce its continued collaboration with Counterflows Festival for 2026, building on the success of last year’s inspiring partnership. As part of this year’s programme, artists from Project Ability’s Aspire studio have once again creatively reimagined the profile images of performers appearing in the festival. The new works offer bold, personal and visually striking interpretations that celebrate both the individuality of the musicians and the distinctive voices of the artists who have created them.

The Aspire studio supports artists with learning disabilities and autism to develop and sustain their creative practices. Through this collaboration, the artists have engaged closely with the spirit of Counterflows, responding to the festival’s boundary-pushing and experimental ethos. The resulting portraits move beyond straightforward likeness, presenting imaginative and expressive artworks that reflect the energy, character and diversity of this year’s line-up.

Counterflows invited one of their past performers into our studios for some live music during the project!  Ailbhe Nic Oireachtaigh spent an afternoon with us, playing the viola while the artists were drawing.

The commissioned artworks will feature throughout the official Counterflows festival zine, continuing last year’s popular format, and will also be exhibited at Mono during the festival. This exhibition offers audiences an opportunity to experience the full collection of works up close, highlighting the talent of the artists and celebrating an ongoing partnership rooted in creativity, inclusion and artistic exchange.

Please join us at Mono on April 9th, from 1-3pm, for a reception.

above featured image, Rhodri Davies by Michael Draper