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Europe Beyond Access: developed in the laboratory
By Joe Turnbull on February 14, 2019
Europe Beyond Access is a four-year pan-European project aimed at supporting disabled artists to break the glass ceilings of the contemporary theatre and dance sectors, initiated by a consortium of seven leading culture organisations and co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
Process and Presence: a virtual gallery from DisArt
By David on December 10, 2018
Jill Vyn and Chris Smit, Co-Directors of DisArt, a disability arts organisation based in Michigan, USA introduce their exhibition Process and Presence: Contemporary Disability Sculpture discussing the various accessibility features they implemented, including a virtual tour and online gallery with accompanying audio descriptions and soundscapes.
The development of captioning in the performing arts
By David on December 3, 2018
Following the launch of National Theatre’s smart caption glasses in October, disabled writer, artist and curator, Sandra Alland, explores the development of captioning for live performance, highlighting a range of international innovations.
Candoco Dance Company’s International Summer Lab
By David on September 26, 2018
Every year, Candoco Dance Company host an ‘International Summer Lab’ bringing together dance practitioners from all over the world to share the company’s approach, exchange ideas and create connections in a professional training environment. This year’s lab took place in August at the University of Roehampton. The company give an overview of the programme and speak to one of this edition’s practitioners.
NDACA: the story of one of the world’s first disability arts archives
By Joe Turnbull on September 24, 2018
In June 2018, Shape Arts launched the National Disability Arts Collection and Archive (NDACA), one of the first of its kind in the world, which chronicles the heritage story of the UK’s Disability Arts Movement and catalogues key pieces from it for posterity. Joe Turnbull speaks to David Hevey, NDACA Project Director and CEO of Shape Arts about this landmark archive.
Unlimited Symposium: what does the future hold for disability-led arts
By Joe Turnbull on September 21, 2018
The Unlimited Symposium was organised by delivery partners Shape Arts and Artsadmin at London’s Unicorn Theatre 3-5 September 2018, preceding Southbank Centre’s Unlimited Festival. The symposium brought together experts, artists, programmers, funders and other delegates from around the world to debate the current state and future of disability-led art. We hear from an organiser, a chair and two panellists from the symposium.
Meet Hijinx: the Welsh company exporting their academy model internationally
By Joe Turnbull on September 20, 2018
Hijinx is a Welsh theatre company who always include learning disabled actors in their productions, run a number of ‘Hijinx Academies’ which develop learning-disabled talent and host the biennial Hijinx Unity Festival. Joe Turnbull speaks to Chief Executive Clare Williams about the company’s international work, including plans to export its academy model overseas.
British Council’s arts and disability focus in East Asia
By Joe Turnbull on August 30, 2018
Arts and Disability is a major focus for the British Council across East Asia. We hear from the British Council’s regional Theatre and Dance Programme Manager, Carole McFadden and in-country Arts Managers from Taiwan and Singapore Shu-chun Lai and Sarah Meisch Lionetto, respectively, to get a broad overview of the programmes and level of co-operation going on across the region.
Dreaming of resting spaces, and making them happen
By Trish Wheatley on July 9, 2018
Dreams of Resting Spaces: how one artist is changing the rules of public spaces and inviting cultural institutions to consider making their venues more accessible for people who need to lie down. Trish Wheatley speaks to UK artist, Raquel Meseguer.
The vexed question of disability-specific festivals
By David on July 5, 2018
What are the pros and cons of festivals that exclusively feature disabled artists? As we head into festival season, Bella Todd considers the relative merits of disability-specific arts festivals, from the perspective of international artists, programmers and funders.
A relaxed environment: welcoming autistic audiences to arts events
By David on May 3, 2018
The etiquette of arts venues, theatres in particular, can present multiple barriers for audiences such as autistic people. Disabled journalist and theatre-maker Kate Lovell explores the growing trend of autism-friendly and relaxed performances, which aim to reduce some of these barriers and make the arts more accessible for everyone.
My Music Ability: Inclusive Music Teaching
By David on April 30, 2018
My Music Ability is a pilot project for inclusive music education at the music teacher training college of the Conservatory of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. In March 2018, it invited the UK’s Drake Music to be ‘artist-in-residence’ to help facilitate the project. Senior Lecturer of Music at the Conservatory, Melissa Bremmer reflects on the initiative.
Outsider Art: beyond the label
By David on April 27, 2018
Director of Outside In, Marc Steene explores the term ‘Outsider Art’ in relation to disability in the month that sees the European Outsider Art Conference come to Chichester, UK. Outside In is a charity that provides a platform for artists that face barriers to the art world, whether due to disability, health, social circumstance or isolation. From 4-6 May the organisation hosts the annual European Outsider Art Conference.
Aruna and the Raging Sun
By Joe Turnbull on April 24, 2018
Aruna and the Raging Sun was a large scale outdoor performance which took place in Chennai, India in February 2018 to crowds of more than 6000. Graeae’s Amit Sharma and representatives of some of the local partners reflect on the project.
IETM Brussels – looking to pluralist cultures for a better expression of equality
By David on January 25, 2018
Vici Wreford-Sinnott is a disabled theatre director, playwright and equality strategist. She is Artistic Director of Little Cog, a disabled-led theatre company, and is Creative Lead and Co-Founder of Cultural Shift, a three-year disabled-led arts programme at ARC Stockton. Wreford-Sinnott was one of a cohort of UK-based disabled artists and producers awarded bursaries by the British Council to attend the latest IETM (International network for contemporary performing arts) event in Brussels, November 2017. Here, she reflects on the experience and how it has influenced her ongoing practice.
A Wider Angle: the evolution and future of disability film festivals
By David on December 4, 2017
UK-based disabled journalist and Agent of Change at Theatre Royal Stratford East, Kate Lovell explores the development and international outlook of disability film festivals from around the world, considering issues of access, agency and representation.
Holland Dance: DanceAble
By Joe Turnbull on November 27, 2017
DanceAble #2 took place 3-5 November 2017 in The Hague, Netherlands. Organised by Holland Dance, a leading Dutch dance organisation, DanceAble #2 brought together international experts, researchers, professionals, dancers, teachers and students working in the field of inclusive dance. Joe Turnbull spoke to the symposium’s Artistic Director, Martine van Dijk about why Holland Dance’s ongoing inclusive and integrated dance programme.
iDance: supporting innovative inclusive practice in dance education
By David on November 27, 2017
iDance is collaborative partnership co-funded by Erasmus+ which aims to support innovative practices in inclusive dance education that runs until the end of 2018. Project partners include Onassis Cultural Centre-Athens (Greece), Holland Dance Festival (Netherlands), Skånes Dansteater (Sweden) and Stopgap Dance Company (UK). Myrto Lavda, Head of Educational Programmes and Dora Vougiouka, Networking & Outreach Coordinator from co-ordinating partner, Onassis reflects on the project's progress.
iDance: the Stopgap perspective
By Joe Turnbull on November 25, 2017
iDance is a training-based collaboration between Onassis Cultural Centre, Stopgap Dance Company, Holland Dance Festival and Skånes Dansteater, which aims to improve adult learning of inclusive dance, funded by Erasmus +. Executive Producer of UK partner, Stopgap Dance Company, Sho Shibata, shares his thoughts on the project.
Stretching the Physicality of Dance
By David on September 19, 2017
Stretching the Physicality of Dance was a conference held at Uferstudios in Berlin 21-23 August this year. The conference aimed to push beyond expectations on contemporary dance, disability and diversity. It is one of the events which takes place in the context of Moving Beyond Inclusion, a Creative Europe funded collaboration between six of Europe's leading inclusive dance companies. Stretching the Physicality of Dance was organised by German partner tanzfähig. Candoco Dance Company artist, Tanja Erhart reflects on the event.