Changing perspectives about arts and disability
Four events taking place during month of October
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This article was published 19/09/2014 (4293 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
An event that spans the month of October hopes to get people talking about art and disability.
The Soapbox Series, presented by the Arts & Disability Network Manitoba (305-1200 Portage Ave.), consists of four events which aim to raise awareness of the arts and disability in the province. Organized by art historian and writer Brennan Smith, who has arthritis, the four events are:
• A panel discussion on accessibility and the arts in Manitoba at the Carol Shields Auditorium, Millennium Library (251 Donald St.) on Oct. 2 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.;
• A community conversation (world café) at the Platform Centre for Photographic + Digital Arts (425-100 Arthur St.) on Oct. 8 from 1:30 to 3:45 p.m.;
• A community conversation (world café) at Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art (611 Main St.) on Oct. 15 from 1:30 to 3:45 p.m.;
• A performance and artist talk by Bill Shannon and planning session at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (85 Israel Asper Way) on Oct. 30 from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
Admission is free for all events, but Susan Lamberd, chairperson for the Arts & Disability Network Manitoba, urges people to register for events as there is limited seating for some, including the performance at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
“We only have 70 seats (for that event), so we’re encouraging people to register,” Lamberd said.
Those interested in attending can register at The Soapbox Series’ event page (thesoapboxseries.eventzilla.net) or email info@adnm.ca
Lamberd wants people to know that in the context of the arts, accessibility doesn’t mean structure.
“We also want to make sure that there’s accessibility as far as attitude. That’s one thing that artists with disabilities have a lot of problems with,” Lamberd said.
For example, Lamberd said a lot of people think the art that people with disabilities create is only for leisure, and not professional work.
“(People say) they’re not doing real art, they’re doing ‘therapeutic’ art,” Lamberd explained. “That’s a barrier people have to get over.”
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