Beyond the cringe – Artists with Disabilities and Cultural Practice in Local Government’
People with disabilities constitute between 10% and 20% of any local community yet this is not reflected by their participation in local government arts programs. Councils mostly provide opportunities for people with disabilities through disability specific arts activity programs. There is very little support or interest to fully involve artists with disabilities in mainstream council arts programs. People with disabilities are not a homogenous group, they experience different types of disabilities and come from every demographic aspect of the community. Old and young, indigenous, culturally diverse, they are gay, lesbian and transgender. As artists they may be poets, visual artists, musicians, dancers or performers.
Artists with disabilities not having access to the same professional opportunities as their peers was the subject of much ground breaking discussion at the Art of Difference Conference in 2006. The Beyond the cringe presentation builds on that debate by specifically addressing local government arts workers and the constraints involved in including artists with disabilities. The session will analyse how people with disabilities currently engage with local government arts programs, what is happening and what should be happening. Strategies will be discussed on ways to move ahead and increase artists with disabilities’ capacity to contribute to the culture of local government regions in Victoria. The presentation will include a written paper and a power point presentation
Jane Trengove is a visual artist. Jane’s professional practice includes painting, installation, collaborative works and the coordination/curation of arts projects. Jane was the Visual Arts and Conference Coordinator for Art of Difference 2006. She currently works for City of Yarra as the Disability Planning Officer, and is Deputy Chair of the Board for Arts Access Victoria.
Lesley Hall has worked in community cultural development for over 20 years. Since 1999 she has worked at the City of Darebin as an Arts & Cultural Development Officer. Both of these presenters are members of the Art of Difference Steering Committee and bring considerable knowledge of disability, the arts and local government to the presentation.