Event: DANCING Final Conference

19-20th June 2025
Venue: TSI Building, Maynooth University

DANCING Conference

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Marking the end of the project after five years of research, the DANCING Final Conference took place at Maynooth University on 19-20 June 2025. Led by Professor Delia Ferri (Professor of Law at the School of Law & Criminology and Co Director of the ALL Institute), the DANCING project (Protecting the Right to Culture of Persons with Disabilities and Enhancing Cultural Diversity through EU Law: Exploring New Paths) has investigated how EU law can dismantle barriers and promote active cultural participation by people with disabilities, connecting the UN CRPD and UNESCO cultural diversity framework.

All conference participants standing outside on MU TSI Building.

The Final Conference marked the successful conclusion of five years of pioneering research and offered the opportunity to discuss the different achievements and results of the project, and presents them to both the academic community, policy-makers and various stakeholders.
On Thursday, 19 June the conference focused on academic research findings, while on Friday, 20 June the conference will discuss the societal and policy impact of the project. The two days conference was held in the new and fully accessible Technology, Society and Innovation (TSI) Building.
The programme featured opening speeches by Prof. Fergus Ryan (Head of the School of Law and Criminology), Prof. Rachel Msetfi (Vice President Research and Innovation) and Dr. Gemma Irvine (Vice President for Equality & Diversity).

Prof. Delia Ferri and the DANCING team were honoured and delighted that Prof. Adam Bodnar, Ministry of Justice of Poland, also sent an inspiring video message on behalf of the Polish Presidency to the European Union. The video opened the first day and added great meaning to the Final Conference and highlighted the importance of inclusion of persons with disabilities in society. The video is available below.
The two-days event featured keynotes speeches from Emeritus Prof. Bruno de Witte (Maastricht University), Ms Inmaculada Placencia Porrero, Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and a keynote dialogue led by Prof. Mark Priestley.

The DANCING team provided insights on their research throughout the project across both panels and roundtables.

The first day of the conference included three panels.

The first panel on The Experiential Objective and Arts-based Research, chaired by Dr. Charles O’Mahony (University of Galway) involved brilliant participants such as Dr. Ann Leahy (Family Carers Ireland – formerly DANCING – Maynooth University), Prof. Laverne Jacobs (University of Windsor – Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) and Prof. Sarah Whatley (University of Coventry).

The second panel, on The Role of EU Law in Advancing the Right of People with Disabilities to Participate in Cultural Life chaired by Prof. Imelda Maher (University College Dublin) was composed of notable academics such as Prof. Bernardo Cortese (University of Padua) and Dr. Charles O’Sullivan (Maynooth University).

The third panel on Disability and Cultural Diversity was chaired by Prof. Juan Jorge Piernas López (University of Murcia) and featured by esteemed speakers Prof. Caterina Sganga (Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies) and Dr. Evangelia Psychogiopoulou (University of the Peloponnese).

The first day was also animated by roundtables, the first one being on DANCING Contribution to Advance the Human Rights Model of Disability. The lively conversation was chaired by Dr. Paolo Vargiu (University of Leicester), and featured Prof. Cora True-Frost (Syracuse University), Prof. Anna Hickey-Moody (Maynooth University), Dr. Shivaun Quinlivan (University of Galway) and Dr. Edurne Garcia Iriarte (Trinity College Dublin).

The second roundtable discussed EU Disability Law and the Process of EU and was chaired by Prof. Elaine Fahey (City Law School, University of London) with wonderful speakers such as Prof. Michael Doherty (Maynooth University), Dr. Annalisa Volpato (University of Padua), Prof. Giuseppe Martinico (Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies) and Prof. Francesco Palermo (University of Verona – EURAC Bolzano/Bozen).

The second day featured roundtables with different stakeholders.

Firstly, the roundtable on Advancing Cultural Participation of Persons with Disabilities Through EU Policymaking, chaired by Dr. Barry Colfer (Institute of International and European Affairs) led to insightful exchanges between Susan Kennefick (Fundamental Rights Agency of the European Union), Ciarán Finlay (National Disability Authority Ireland), Elizabeth Gosme (COFACE Families Europe), Frankie Picron (European Union of the Deaf), Lina Kouzi (Vision Ireland) and Dr. Claudia Coveney (University of Leeds).

The second roundtable, chaired by Dr. Patricia McCarthy (Trinity College Dublin) on Making Cultural Organisations More Inclusive and Accessible was composed of knowledgeable speakers such as Pádraig Naughton (Arts & Disability Ireland), Dr. Victoria Durrer (University College Dublin), Lucy Bennett (Stopgap Dance Company), Monique Dior Jarrett (Stopgap Dance Company).

Prof. Ferri and the DANCING team were furthermore excited to exhibit the manifold collaborations with artists and creators embedded in the project.

Indeed, the first day featured the unveiling of the DANCING-commissioned artwork ‘Odisseo-Ulysses’ created by artist Tiziano Pantano. The unveiling was graciously marked by an insightful speech of MU President Prof. Eeva Leinonen. Her thoughtful reflections added great significance to this milestone of the project, highlighting the broader cultural and institutional context in which DANCING research has been carried out.
Moreover, the conference was concluded with the first screening of the ERC DANCING documentary produced by Feenish Productions Ltd. featuring a post-show Q&A with director James Kelly as well as Lucy Bennett and Monique Dior Jarrett of Stopgap Dance Company, which developed the bespoke contemporary dance piece ‘Lived Fiction’ commissioned by DANCING and introduced and moderated by Dr. Denis Condon (Maynooth University)

To learn more about the event, the full report on the DANCING Final Conference can be found on our Reports Page.

DANCING Final Conference Programme

Download PDF of Final Conference programme

Downl oad Accessible MS Word version of Final Conference programme

Video – Opening remarks of Professor Adam Bodnar, Minister of Justice of Poland, on behalf of the Polish Presidency of the European Union (1 Jan 2025 – 30 Jun 2025)

DANCING Final Conference Gallery

This photo gallery includes snapshots highlighting the key moments of the conference, captured both by our team and our graphic designer Norbert Croonenberg. Every picture is accompanied by a caption describing the image. If you do not find this gallery accessible, pease see the alternative format underneath.

DANCING team together with Accessibility Designer Norbert Croonenberg standing in front of MU TSI Building.

Principal Investigator of DANCING Prof. Delia Ferri and Dr. Paolo Vargiu.

Vice President Research and Innovation, Prof. Rachel Msetfi delivering a speech.

First panel of the conference, featuring the chair, two speakers, two discussants, and Irish Sign Language interpretation.

First roundtable of the conference, featuring the chair, and four speakers, Irish Sign Language Interpretation.

All conference participants standing outside on MU Campus.

A group photo of all the conference attendees standing outside in the sun at Maynooth University

Second panel of the conference, featuring two speakers, two discussants, and Irish Sign Language Interpretation.

Third panel of the conference, featuring the chair, two speakers, two discussants, and Irish Sign Language Interpretation.

Prof. Bruno De Witte delivering a speech.

Audience members listening to the presentations of the conference.

President of Maynooth University, Prof. Eeva Leinonen delivering a speech for the artwork unveiling.

Principal Investigator of DANCING, Prof. Delia Ferri, Maynooth President Prof. Eeva Leinonen, and Honourable Justice John MacMenamin standing in front of the artwork after unveiling.

Conference participant with their hand on the canvas to experience the artwork through touch.

Principal Investigator of DANCING Prof. Delia Ferri and Maynooth University President Prof. Eeva Leinonen unveiling together the artwork.

Registration desk with participant signing the attendance sheet.

Vice President for Equality and Diversity Dr. Gemma Irvine delivering a speech and Irish Sign Language Interpretation.

Keynote Speech by Inmaculada Placencia Porrero, Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, given remotely.

Irish Sign Language interpreter and International Sign Language interpreter signing for the audience.

Head of School of Law and Criminology, Prof. Fergus Ryan delivering a speech.

Second roundtable of the conference, featuring the chair, six speakers, and Irish Sign Language interpretation.

Third roundtable of the conference, featuring the chair and their guide dog, a member of the DANCING team helping to set up, the five speakers, and Irish Sign Language Interpretation.

Fourth and final roundtable of the conference featuring the chair and the four speakers following the documentary screening.

Prof. Mark Priestley giving a keynote speech.

Prof. Mark Priestley giving a keynote speech moderated by Prof. Dorothy Estrada-Tanck.

Accessibility Designer Norbert Croonenberg and Prof. Francesco Palermo standing next to and smiling at each others.

Principal Investigator of DANCING Prof. Delia Ferri and Accessibility Designer Norbert Croonenberg standing together.

Participants chatting together in between sessions.

First panel of the conference featuring the chair, two speakers, and two discussants.

Large screen displaying the digital poster of the conference inside the MU TSI Building.

Video of opening remarks of Prof. Adam Bodnar, Ministry of Justice of Poland, on behalf of the Polish Presidency to the European Union, playing in front of the audience, with Irish Sign Language Interpretation.

Second roundtable of the conference featuring the chair and four speakers.

Prof. Giuseppe Martinico, Prof. Caterina Sganga, and Principal Investigator of DANCING Prof. Delia Ferri standing together.

Principal Investigator of DANCING Prof. Delia Ferri and Prof. Michael Doherty standing together.

Principal Investigator of DANCING Prof. Delia Ferri and Prof. Francesco Palermo standing together.

DANCING Final Conference Gallery – Alternative Format