Photo of Allan Sutherland
Allan Sutherland and Colin Hambrook will examine the origins, development and future of the Disability Arts community. In common with other ?identity politics? movements within the arts in the 70s and 80s, this community originally formed to resist exclusion and fight discrimination.
At present, the evident contributions of this community (in terms of its role is supporting disabled artists via online resources and funding streams, for example) are being increasingly problematized by the sense of limitation or confinement that has come to be associated with issue-led, identity-driven arts practice.
This work stream will examine the tensions within the disability arts community, looking at how the difficulties manifest through a series of conversations about labels and affiliation, loyalty, professionalism and credibility.
This stream will explore these developments, debate the future of this community, and express its narratives through poetry. Outputs will include poems, performances and animation.