Opinion
Search
The Republic of Inclusion: utopian strivings for better access and inclusion
By David on September 18, 2017
The Republic of Inclusion was the culmination of a two-year dramaturgical and theatre-based inquiry about stories being told outside of so-called conventional theatrical fare. The project was produced by English Theatre at Canada’s National Arts Centre. Project co-Curator Sarah Garton Stanley reflects on some of the findings and their implications for access and inclusion.
Arts Council England: How leadership from a funder can facilitate greater diversity and accessibility
By David on September 15, 2017
Arts Council England’s Head of Diversity, Abid Hussain explains some of the organisation’s recent initiatives to improve the diversity and accessibility of the UK’s arts sector.
The European Cultural Foundation: fostering a more open and inclusive Europe
By Joe Turnbull on September 14, 2017
The European Cultural Foundation is a grant-making organisation which supports the role of culture in facilitating a more open and inclusive society across Europe. It was established in Geneva in 1954, to ensure culture played a part in Europe’s post-war rebuilding. The organisation’s headquarters have since moved to Amsterdam. Joe Turnbull speaks to Grants Programmes Officers Nicola Mullenger and Helena Rytilahti about their work.
The British Council’s Edinburgh Artist Development programme
By Joe Turnbull on September 13, 2017
This year, the British Council ran a career development opportunity for eight disabled and/or BAME (black and minority ethnic) artists to experience the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; seeing shows, attending talks and networking. We get the perspectives of the Programme Manager and one of the artists who attended.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017 overview
By Joe Turnbull on July 10, 2017
A preview of the forthcoming Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017, including a selection of Disability Arts International’s picks from the programme, a brief discussion of the access features on offer at this year’s festival and information about the British Council’s Edinburgh Showcase.
Moving Beyond Inclusion
By David on July 10, 2017
Moving Beyond Inclusion is a Creative Europe funded collaboration between six of Europe's leading inclusive dance companies. Project Producer, Joanne Lyons of UK partner Candoco Dance Company explains the motives, aims and challenges of this ambitious initiative.
Why the British Council’s Arts and Disability programme is such a priority in Europe
By Joe Turnbull on June 11, 2017
Something exciting is happening across Europe; organisations are opening their eyes to the aesthetic challenge often posed by disabled artists. Joe Turnbull, Assistant Editor of Disability Arts Online speaks to Ben Evans, Head of Arts and Disability, EU Region at the British Council to discuss how sharing expertise can capitalise on this momentum.
ShareMusic’s Sophia Alexandersson shares the learning
By David on May 11, 2017
ShareMusic & Performing Arts is an arts organisation focussing on inclusion based in Sweden, which produces performances and holds courses both domestically and internationally. ShareMusic's Chief Executive and Artistic Director Sophia Alexandersson shares some of the lessons learned from over 14 years of using music and performing arts to foster a more inclusive society, reflecting on their latest production SHANGHAI with The Göteborg Opera.
DisArt Symposium 2017
By David on May 5, 2017
DisArt Symposium is an international symposium of disability arts which took place in Michigan, USA 6-8 April 2017. Benedict Phillips, is a UK-based artist who explores new ways of looking at the world around us. Disability Arts International commissioned Phillips to take an unconventional look at this international conference.
IntegrART 2017: the relationship between art, politics and disabled bodies
By David on May 2, 2017
IntegrART is a biennial symposium hosted in Zurich which explores the integration of disabled people as artists and audiences within the arts. This year explored the relationship between art, politics and disabled bodies through series of panel debates, talks and performances. British arts journalist, Bella Todd reflects on the issues raised by both the discussions and the nature of the symposium itself.
IntegrART 2017: performance overview
By David on April 27, 2017
IntegrART is a Swiss-based initiative established in 2007 by Migros Culture Percentage as a means of integrating disabled people within the arts. It hosts a biennial symposium with discussions and performances. British arts journalist, Bella Todd attended the 2017 incarnation, and here assesses the performances.
Long Distance for Short Films: Oska Bright visits Clermont-Ferrand Festival in France
By David on March 3, 2017
Lizzie Banks, producer of Carousel’s biennial Oska Bright Film Festival, reflects on her team’s recent trip to Clermont-Ferrand, Europe’s leading short film showcase and festival.
The Aesthetics of Access
By David on February 28, 2017
Arts and equalities journalist Paul F Cockburn asks how the consideration of accessibility has influenced the aesthetics of disability theatre and performance.
Crossing the Line Festival: leaping over barriers
By David on February 17, 2017
Arts journalist, Bella Todd reflects on Crossing the Line festival, a collaboration between three leading learning-disability theatre companies from across Europe, finding different approaches but some shared experiences.
Jonathan Meth on Crossing the Line
By David on February 16, 2017
Crossing the Line’s Project Dramaturg, Jonathan Meth, speaks about the significance of bringing together three learning-disabled theatre companies from across Europe, and the fascinating conversations that arose.
Crossing the Line: an introduction
By David on February 15, 2017
Arts journalist, Bella Todd gives an overview of Crossing the Line festival, which took place in Roubaix, France from 24-26 January 2017, bringing together leading learning disability theatre companies from England, Sweden and France.
Sarah Munro on supporting disabled artists
By Joe Turnbull on January 27, 2017
Sarah Munro became Director of internationally renowned gallery, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in November 2015. Throughout her career in the arts, Munro has played a part in nurturing and showcasing work by disabled artists. Joe Turnbull caught up with her to discuss her career thus far, recent projects at BALTIC, and what the landscape looks like for the future.
Agents for Change
By David on January 26, 2017
Kate Lovell, disabled theatre-maker and Agent for Change at Theatre Royal Stratford East, unpacks the meaning of her unusual job title, exploring how this Arts Council England initiative is a unique model for improving access to theatre for disabled people as artists and audiences.
Disability Arts Online’s Curated Profile List
By David on November 2, 2016
Colin Hambrook, Editor of Disability Arts Online curates a list of artists and companies who in the process of developing their work, have shifted a
The possibilities of captioning and live subtitles
By David on October 28, 2016
Stagetext is a national charity which captions and live subtitles in theatres and cultural venues, enabling access to the arts for deaf, deafened and hard of hearing audiences. Melanie Sharpe, the organisation’s CEO explains the differences between the two and shares some of the exciting recent innovations in the field.