Arts and Disability Awards Info Session

The deadline for your second chance to apply for an Arts and Disability Award is fast approaching.  November 2nd will mark the closing of applications for the 2009 Arts and Disability Awards (Round II).

The Arts & Disability Awards Ireland is a bursary programme for individual disabled artists living in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland working in ALL artforms. An information and advice day on the Arts & Disability Awards will take place in Dublin on Wednesday October 14th, 2009 at Fire Station Artists’ Studios.  Contact the Arts and Disability Forum to register.

The Awards are the result of a partnership between the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaìon and the Arts & Disability Forum.

• Posted:05 Oct 2009 at 12:00 pm

Do Touch

Bread. Do you need eyes and ears to appreciate it? To bake it?  Inside a theatre in Tel Aviv, an ensemble of eleven actors who are deaf and blind invite you to explore these questions and your own senses through the theatrical performance, “Not By Bread Alone”.

This is the Nalaga’at Theater Dead-blind Acting Ensemble’s second production at the Nalaga’at Center.  Today the Center employs 70 people who are deaf, blind or deaf-blind and is visitied by  thousands each year.   Together, they search for a unique “theatrical language”, as well as increase awareness of deaf-blind persons’ needs, in Israel and the rest of the world.

If the aroma of freshly baked bread during the performance leaves your stomach rumbling, the Centre also offers two unique dining experiences.  In Black Out, a restaurant run in total darkness, you are served by waiters who are blind.  Alternatively, Café Kapish and its wait staff who are deaf or hearing impaired offer you the chance to order your cappuccino by way of sign language.

“Nalaga’at”, translating to “Do Touch”, seems a fitting title as its performances, workshops and dining experience offer participants the chance to reach out, ask questions and learn from difference.

In their words “A visit to the center will change the way you think, the way you feel, the way you are…”

• Posted:20 Aug 2009 at 03:03 pm

Adam

Have you heard about the film “ADAM”?  Winner of the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, this curious romantic comedy is now playing in select theaters thanks to Fox Searchlight.  Starring Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne, ADAM follows the start of a relationship between Adam, a handsome, brilliant young man who has Asperger’s Syndrome and his new upstairs neighbour, Beth.

Asperger’s Syndrome is part of the broad spectrum of Autism Disorders.  The Asperger Syndrome Association of Ireland, ASPIRE, explains “…generally those affected by the condition have an IQ within the normal range but may have extremely poor social and communication skills. Many famous people such as W.B. Yeats, Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton are said to have been affected by AS.”

Visit Fox Searchlight’s official website for ADAM to explore a list of blogs and sites on Autism and video interviews with writer/director Max Mayer and lead Hugh Dancy on the subject of Asperger’s Syndrome.

• Posted:10 Aug 2009 at 10:20 am

MA in Inclusive Arts Practice

The University of Brighton is currently accepting applications for its new course, a two year part time MA in Inclusive Arts Practice.  The course gives students a chance to conduct practice based arts research by working with real life projects like Access to Arts and Inside Out.   The course curriculum addresses key issues and debates around disability in the arts while exploring areas such as learning disabilities, architecture and built environment.  Graduates will leave with the practical skills and understanding they need to initiate and deliver their own inclusive arts projects and practices.

This course is not just for those with a well developed arts background.  Those in the health, education, and community sector also stand to gain valuable insight.  Learn more about this course by visiting the Inclusive Arts Practice Course Description.

• Posted:22 Jun 2009 at 11:33 am

Another First for BBC Soaps

EastEnders’ cast will be joined by David Proud, a 26 year old actor who uses a wheelchair due to spinal bifida.  David will play a character with the same condition.

Throughout the history of this soap, many characters with various disabilities have appeared in the script. However, this addtion will be a first for BBC.  EastEnders’ executive producer Diederick Santer explains. “This is the first time we’ve had a regular adult character with a visible disability played by an actor with a disability. It’s about time.”

Read full article “Disabled character for EastEnders” on bbc.co.uk

• Posted:16 Jun 2009 at 12:04 pm

Films Involving Disability

When you see a trailer for a film involving disability, what springs to mind?  Perhaps a character in a wheelchair or one with learning difficulties overcoming all obstacles to achieve his or her wildest dreams?  Or perhaps a battle against prejudice?  In reality, there are actually thousands of films which involve disability, not necessarily using stereotypical storyboards.

Check out disabilityfilms.co.uk to see how disability has been represented over time in more than 3,000 films and documentaries.

• Posted:04 Jun 2009 at 10:20 am

Arts and Disability Awards

Each year, Irish artists who are disabled have two chances to apply for an Arts and Disability Award.  One such chance will close this Monday, May 18th.  Applicants stand to gain as much as €6,050 to support development of new work and increase their skills.  Open to all art forms, these Awards aim to challenge and inspire creativity, experimentation and artistic excellence.  Learn more about the Arts and Disability Awards, including a second opportunity to apply in November.

The Awards are the result of a partnership between the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaìon and the Arts & Disability Forum.

• Posted:15 May 2009 at 10:22 am

Brazil’s International Disability Film Festival

Brazil’s 4th annual international disability film festival will kick off this August in Rio de Janeiro. The aim of this festival is to “promote and encourage new ways of seeing special needs and disabilities”.

Films of any duration are accepted and submission is free. Closing date for applications is this Monday, May 11th.

• Posted:07 May 2009 at 04:41 pm

Largest Greenfield Festival Gives Green Light on Accessibility

Glastonbury Festival is taking an extra step this year to enhance access for musicians and attendees with disabilities.  Set in the UK, this five day festival of contemporary performing arts will play host to a stage designed specifically for people with disabilities.  The stage will be fully accessible for wheelchair users and offer sign language interpretation.

Spokesman John Shearlaw said: “We usually consult organisations representing disabled people to ensure we make the festival as accessible as possible. This year, we wanted to go a step further and see whether we couldn’t do something more.”  Organisers joined with Club Attitude to make it happen.  Club Attitude works to improve people with disabilities’ access to live performances.

Set to kick off on June 24th, this year’s lineup will be underscored by artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Lilly Allen and Fleet Foxes.  These chart topping artists will be in good company with five hours of programming from some of the best disabled artists including Heavy Load and Spaceships Are Cool.

• Posted:28 Apr 2009 at 04:05 pm

Fire Station Artist’s Studio Awards

Fire Station Artist’s Studios has extended the deadline for its two residency awards for disabled artists.  Friday, May 1st is now the last day to apply for a chance to live, work and learn in the center of Dublin City.

• Posted:23 Apr 2009 at 04:20 pm