Profiles
11 December 2008
Within this section you will find a living archive, profiling the work of disabled and deaf artists, arts managers and organisations who have contributed to the development of disability and deaf arts. You will find interviews by writers within the movement profiling some key artists and arts managers, recording their achievements and asking questions about the development of disability arts, as a work in progress.
If you would like to comment on any of the features, please fill in the comment form at the end of each article.
Alternatively, if there is an individual, or a project that you think deserves including here, please send an email telling us who and why to editor@disabilityartsonline.org.uk
Interview: Lizzie Emeh - Loud and Proud
10 March 2010
Colin Hambrook caught up with soul diva Lizzie Emeh in Brighton for a gig at Carousel's Blue Camel Club
Interview: Julie McNamara discusses her theatre practice, part of Shape Animate
1 March 2010
Colin Hambrook talks with theatre practitioner Julie McNamara about her Animate talk at Shape on 4 March 2010. Animate explores the rich history of Disability Arts through talks and workshops.
CoolTan Arts premieres three films at the British Film Institute
22 February 2010
CoolTan Arts, the London-based arts project working with mental health service users, launched three films at the British Film Institute on February 8, 2010. One film follows their pioneering Largactyl Shuffle late-night art and heritage walks round London.
Profile: Rethink Parliament
21 February 2010
Parliamentary Outreach have launched an innovative new initiative designed with mental health group, Rethink. Colin Hambrook reports on how the project is engaging with communities of disabled people, within the mental health arena, who have traditionally been disengaged from the democratic process.
Interview: Noemi Lakmaier discusses her work for Shape's Animate programme
2 February 2010
Animate explores the rich history of Disability Arts through talks and workshops. Colin Hambrook asked visual artist Noemi Lakmaier about her plans for the second of these talks at Shape on 8 February 2010
Interview: Tony Heaton discusses Shape's Animate artists' talks
25 January 2010
Animate will explore the rich history of Disability Arts, through a programme of talks and workshops. Colin Hambrook asked Tony Heaton, sculptor and Chief Executive of Shape, what he plans to talk about himself, and what he is looking forward to hearing about from the artists leading these events?
Interview with Tanya Raabe - Revealing Culture: Head On
20 January 2010
Visual Artist Tanya Raabe is engaged in an exciting new multi-layered project exploring identity and disability culture in contemporary portraiture and the nude. Colin Hambrook interviewed her for dao.
Profile: Dada-South takes a role in Accentuate
8 January 2010
Dao editor, Colin Hambrook spoke to Dada-South’s director Stevie Rice about the organisation’s role in Accentuate over the next couple of years.
Profile: Cultural Olympiad present Discovering Places and Open Weekend
18 December 2009
Two Cultural Olympiad events, taking place during 2010, are aimed at opening up arts and culture to new audiences. Organisers want non-commercial organisations to get involved in developing and planning how these projects shape up.
Winners revealed at DaDaFest Awards 2009, Liverpool
7 December 2009
The annual DaDaFest Awards are for many people the highlight of DaDaFest. This year’s awards were presented on 3 December 2009 at a black tie event at the Hilton, Liverpool.
Disability Arts Online Highly Commended in 2009 Jodi Awards at the V&A
3 December 2009
Disability Arts Online has won its first national accolade. The site was highly commended at the Jodi Awards, announced December 2, 2009 at the Sackler Centre, V&A, in London. The national and international Jodi Awards celebrate the best use of digital technology in the service of access to culture for disabled people.
Interview: Colin Hambrook talks to Jack Thorne, writer of C4 TV’s Cast Offs
22 November 2009
Colin Hambrook talks to Cast Offs co-writer Jack Thorne about a show that promises to be a milestone in television comedy drama. Eagerly awaited, Cast Offs airs at 11pm on Tuesday 24 November.
Oska Bright 4th International Festival of short films
17 November 2009
Oska Bright 2009 runs from Tuesday 17 to Thursday 19 November 2009 with different screenings each day. As well as daily screenings Oska Bright includes Master Classes, mentoring sessions, a fabulous awards ceremony and a closing party with live music. The festival kick off with an inspiring workshops for people with learning disabilities wanting to learn how to make films.
Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow launches Rethink Parliament project
6 November 2009
Jon Pratty reports on Rethink Parliament, a new collaboration between Rethink, dao and Parliamentary Outreach launched this month by John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons.
Video: Disabled Avant Garde
30 October 2009
Katherine Araniello and Aaron Williamson of the Disabled Avant Garde have published two new films satirising the current state of disability arts. Take a look and weep.
Inside story: Resistance by Liz Crow
20 October 2009
Liz Crow of Roaring Girl Productions tells us about the making of Resistance - a dual-screen moving image installation that will tour galleries and museums and is due to be launched on 17 November 2009 as major part of DaDaFest, Novas CUC Gallery, Liverpool.
Profile: London 2012 launches Unlimited Cultural Olympiad programme
8 October 2009
Deaf and Disabled arts, culture and sports are right at the core of Unlimited, a new London 2012 Cultural Olympiad programme worth £3m launched at South Bank Centre
Profile: Jon Adams presents The Goose on the Hill
25 September 2009
This autumn Pallant House Gallery plays host to Jon Adams' retrospective 'The Goose on the Hill' from 13 October – 22 November 2009. The exhibition coincides with ‘Outside In’ - a major exhibition of Outsider Art.
Profile: Magpie Dance and the Siobhan Davies Dance Company
8 September 2009
Magpie Dance have been challenging their dancers through a series of workshops with the Siobhan Davies Dance Company. Eileen Strong reports.
Profile: Decibel Performing Arts Showcase
6 September 2009
The fourth decibel Performing Arts Showcase, takes place in Manchester from 15-18 September 2009. The showcase, run by Arts Council England offers promoters and national and international arts professionals a unique snapshot of England’s diverse performing arts talent.
Profile: 'Outside In' 2009
5 August 2009
'Outside In' is on show at Pallant House Gallery, 9 North Pallant, Chichester, West Sussex, 4 August – 8 November 2009. The exhibition provides a platform for artists who are marginalised due to health, disability or other social circumstances. Marc Steene, Head of Learning, explains some of the reasoning behind the competition, due to become a national event by 2011.
Video: Juan delGado presents The Flickering Darkness
28 July 2009
Paula Silva gives an overview of Flickering Darkness - a film installation premiered at the Chamber of Commerce in Bogota, by Juan delGado of Cremer Projects.
Interview: Stephen Dwoskin
22 July 2009
Allan Sutherland interviewes cult experimental film-maker Stephen Dwoskin during his retrospective at the BFI Southbank, London.
Profile: Parliamentary Outreach present Breaking Barriers
20 July 2009
Liz Porter gives an overview of a pilot Parliamentary Outreach project developed in partnership with Essex County Council, The Women's Library, Rethink, Epping Forest Museum, and Southend Discovery Museum.
Arts Versus Sports: from a disability perspective
14 May 2009
A Yorkshire project, coordinated by ADA inc, focusing on the creative responses of disabled artists to the complex overlaps between art, sport and disability.
A conversation with Rachel Feldberg, Artistic Director of the Ilkley Literature Festival
6 May 2009
Rachel Feldberg, Artistic Director of the Ilkley Literature Festival, discusses life, love and disability with Jo Verrent, director of ADA inc.
Driving Inspiration
19 April 2009
Caroline Cardus reports on Buckinghamshire's Cultural Olympiad project.
StopGAP Dance Company
4 February 2009
StopGAP are an internationally recognised Dance Company. Having comleted a whirlwind UK tour of their acclaimed Portfolio Collection they are now preparing for the Caravan International Event, which is taking place to coincide with The Brighton Festival.
Katherine Araniello on her character 'Terminal Services' in Late at Tate
17 December 2008
Late at Tate - an artist intervention in Tate Britain’s Duveen Galleries - was recently curated by Vauxhall’s art laboratory, Beaconsfield. The concept behind the evening was the idea of creating a terminal space, with an array of arrival and departure points, in which only the surreal applied.
Gus Cummins: ICTAL
1 December 2008
Bristol-based artist Gus Cummins’ latest audiovisual work 'Invaders', has been commissioned as part of the Exeter Phoenix Digital Media Bursary 2008. Kate Cotton reports.
Caroline Cardus: Hidden Battles
6 November 2008
Caroline Cardus takes on Dada-South Go Make! BursaryCaroline Cardus' residency is the fourth in an ongoing series of bursaries for disabled and deaf artists, awarded by Dada-South.
Jon Adams: Word Wall
16 October 2008
Artist challenges commuters at London Bridge stationJon Adams has recently been appointed as Southern's Artist in Residence and over the next year Adams will be creating his art on the Southern network as part of the Alternative Platform project.
Gus Cummins: Interview
11 August 2008
Gus Cummins is creating a variety of visual arts and media, inspired by his experience of epilepsy. The work ranges from painting to video and digital installations. Colin Hambrook asked Gus a few questions in preparation for seeing some of the work in NW
Open Studio with Noëmi Lakmaier
8 May 2008
Noëmi Lakmaier's residency at Camden Arts Centre as recipient of the Adam Reynolds Memorial Bursary and a conversation with Tony Heaton
Cirque Nova begins training aiming for 2012
23 April 2008
Jean-Marie Akkermann blogs on Cirque Nova's latest training project for disabled artists
Pauline Alexander: the many faces of discrimination
23 April 2008
Pauline Alexander tells the story of turning direct experience of employment discrimination into ArtKaleido
2 April 2008
South-west disability arts organisation Equata have recently relaunched themselves as Kaleido
StopGAP Dance Company
6 March 2008
StopGAP Dance Company are currently undertaking a UK tour with their latest Portfolio Collection
The Heroes say Goodbye
6 March 2008
Nick Massey bids a fond farewell to inclusive pop group The Heroes
Next Year in Auckland
29 January 2008
Philip Patston, comedy performer, public speaker and the primal force behind the International Disability Arts Symposium which will take place in Auckland in March 2009.
Art Disability Culture
7 January 2008
David Watson, editor of Art Disability Culture Magazine, talks to Joe McConnell
Noëmi Lakmaier
18 December 2007
Noëmi Lakmaier, winner of the Adam Reyolds bursary, talks to Colin Hambrook about her award
Tanya Raabe: Artist on the Edge
17 December 2007
Ann Young talks about life, love and Who's Who Tanya Raabe's latest collection of paintings
Chris Hammond
31 October 2007
Joe Bidder interviews Chris Hammond as part of a series of profiles looking at the lives of leading figures within the Disability Arts movement
Tales from the Boarders
29 October 2007
Anne Teahan documents the artistic process of three artists making Art from the memories of an institution.
Attitude At Liberty
27 August 2007
Grae Wall talks to Joe McConnell about Attitude is Everything's music zone at this year's Liberty Festival.
Victoria Waddington
26 August 2007
Joe Bidder interviews Victoria Waddington as part of a series of profiles looking at the lives of leading figures within the Disability Arts movement
Oska Bright Film Festival
8 May 2007
DAO asked Oska Bright about the world's first national festival of short films made by and for people with learning disabilities
Tony Heaton: Squaring The Circle
8 May 2007
Joe Bidder profiles Tony Heaton, a leading artist within the Disability Arts movement
Phil Lancaster
8 May 2007
Colin Hambrook talked to Phil Lancaster about his compelling, computer generated images
National Disability Arts Collection and Archive
8 May 2007
Joe Bidder talks to Tony Heaton about a leading Disability Arts archive spearheaded at the residential disability arts centre at Holton Lee, Dorset.
Sophie Woolley
1 February 2007
Melissa Mostyn reviews Sophie Woolley's latest one-woman show When to Run?
Drake Music Project
16 December 2006
DAO checks on how what's happening at the Drake Music Project at the end of 2006Creative Routes
16 December 2006
Sarah Tonin talks to Joe McConnell about the Creative Routes Company
Peter Campbell: The pleasure madmen know
16 December 2006
Joe Bidder profiles survivor poet and activist Peter Campbell and gives a potted history of the movement, through his achievements.
Interview with Deborah Williams
16 December 2006
Colin Hambrook talked to Deborah Williams about her approach to making theatre and her dreams for her company, Reality Productions.Juan delGado
16 December 2006
Joe McConnell talks to Juan delGado about his cutting edge work using photography and video installation
Benedict Phillips: Invisible Apartheid of Words
16 December 2006
Benedict Philips talks to Colin Hambrook about his performance art and photography exploring the experience of dyslexia.
Lara Varga
16 December 2006
Printmaker, Illustrator and Book Artist Lara Varga talks about her Art work and practiceInterview with Lou Birks
1 May 2006
Joe McConnell finds out more about Lou Birks' work as an independent filmmaker.
James Aldridge: Inside-Out
1 May 2006
James Aldridge explores his relationship to disability and impairment
Nancy Willis: Early Days
1 May 2006
A painter, printmaker and sculptor, Nancy Willis is an exceptional artist who has been exhibiting at mainstream and Disability Arts events since the mid 1970's.Colin Hambrook
1 May 2006
Making paintings and prints about my experience of visions, hallucinations and dreams, brought me into contact with an emerging Disability Arts.Simon Cooper: My Virtual Reality World
1 May 2006
Simon Cooper - a Platform 6 artist - explores the dilemma between hand-made and technology-made printmaking and looks at ways of combining the two processes.The Power of Touch
1 February 2006
Joe McConnell talks to Pádraig Naughton about his journey as a visual artist with a sight impairment.
Cathy Wooley
1 December 2005
Melissa Mostyn talks to Cathy Wooley about her work and inspiration as artist and friend.
National Disability Arts Collection and Archive
1 November 2005
An introduction to the National Disability Arts Collection and Archive at Holton LeeColin Redwood: Sound Sculpture
1 November 2005
Can sound sculpture boost Deaf Awareness? According to Colin Redwood, it can.Paddy Masefield Award
1 October 2005
Open only to people with learning difficulties, resident in the South West Region and aged 18 or over, it is the only award of its kind in Europe
Oska Bright Film Festival 2005
1 October 2005
Oska Bright 2 is the world's first film festival run by, and for, people with learning disabilities.Julie McNamara: Pig's Sister
1 July 2005
Colin Hambrook talked to Julie McNamara about Pig's Sister her latest piece of theatre, due to be performed at Theatre Workshop in Edinburgh as part of the Degenerate Festival 2005.
An interview with Philip Patston
1 July 2005
DAO interviews writer, comedian and activist, Philip Patston.Karen Sheader: Planet of the Blind
1 July 2005
Joe McConnell talks to Karen Sheader about the production of her CD, Planet of the Blind.Danny Start
1 June 2005
Joe McConnell talks to Danny Start about his play I Love you Angela, recently broadcast on Radio 4, and about his career as a writer.LDAF Disability Film Festival
1 April 2005
Now in its seventh year, London Disability Arts Forum's (LDAF) annual Disability Film Festival continues to provide a powerful platform for the work of disabled filmmakers.
Maria Kuipers
1 March 2005
Colin Hambrook reviews the work of an artist whose work embraces a therapeutic approach.Paul Cade: Sanity for Vanity
1 March 2005
Colin Hambrook recently saw Paul Cade's breathtaking work and decided to visit the artist in person.Liz Crow: Frida Kahlo’s Corset
1 March 2005
An award-winning short film about the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo will accompany a major exhibition of the artist's work to be held at Tate Modern in London on show until October 2005Alison Jones: The Smell of Honey
1 January 2005
Alison Jones, acclaimed visual artist, talks to Joe McConnell about her exploration of multisensory experience.Laurence Clark: The Jim Davidson Guide to Equality
1 January 2005
Laurence Clark tours his stand-up show, The Jim Davidson Guide to Equality until December 2005.Artsadmin Digital Bursaries 2004
1 December 2004
Joe McConnell, editor of DAIL Magazine, provides a look at the work of some of the disabled artists who received bursaries in 2004 from Artsadmin for work in digital media.StopGap dancers on the move
1 December 2004
Colin Hambrook met Chris Pavia and Laura Jones from StopGap Dance Company in the middle of their busy schedule to ask a few questions about the company:
Signs of a Diva - an interview with Caroline Parker
1 December 2004
An interview with Caroline ParkerThe New DAIL Magazine (2004)
1 December 2004
Disability Arts Online spoke to Catya Wheatley and Hanne Olsen, the new editors of Disability Arts in London (DAIL) Magazine.
Art Through Touch
1 December 2004
Visually impaired artist Lynn Cox explains why this London-based project is so ground-breakingMark Ware: Mind Games
1 December 2004
Mark Ware has created a play, a film and an exhibition that's influenced by his life after a stroke at the age of 39. Colin Hambrook talked to him about his creative journey.
Dave Lupton: Crippen Cartoons
1 December 2004
Disabled cartoonist Dave Lupton has a unique cutting edge 'disability vision', and is currently looking for support to bring his cartoons to a wider audience.Wild Bunch club night
1 December 2004
The Wild Bunch club night for adults with learning difficulties is one of the friendliest, funkiest clubs in town.Damien Robinson: Songbird
1 December 2004
Deaf artist Damien Robinson talks to Ele Carpenter about an intriguing audio installation, which explores the relationship between sound and vibration.The Way Ahead
1 December 2004
Colin Hambrook talks to Jayni Anderton of Disability Arts Shropshire, about her recent training initiative.