Disability arts
Disability arts groups
Double Act: Two local theatre groups DATco and TOPS are now working together as Double Act (formerly The Next Stage). Double Act reflects the partnership between DATco (people with sensory or physical disabilities) and TOPS (people with learning disabilities). Both groups will work together as Double Act on occasional projects, whilst still continuing to develop work independently. Double Act provides high quality and life long learning opportunities for disabled adults to participate in theatre activities. Click here to download their brochure.
15 days in clay inspires and enables adults with learning disabilities and disabled adults the opportunity to work with practicing artist Janna Edwards. Individual artists develop their ceramic skills to a professional level going on to exhibit around the country. Several artists have successfully gone on to receive grants from the Arts Council to put on their first solo shows. Many of the artists have gone onto achieve recongnised qualifications in their field of art.
The project runs three days a week from 10.30 –3pm there is no time limit for individuals to continue attending 15 days, we are based at the pavilion Holton Lee.
Free taster sessions are offered to individuals to see if this is something they wish to pursue.
Contact Janna Edwards on 07980 563899 or email janna@15daysinclay.co.uk
Splat!! is a Saturday Arts Club at Bournemouth Family Resource Centre. Splat!! welcomes children who, due to disadvantage or disability, face access barriers to mainstream weekend activities but want to enjoy creative activities and the arts. A rolling programme of arts activities and events are led by professional arts practitioners and tutors. This project is funded by The Children's Fund, and supported through collaboration between Bournemouth Borough Council Children’s Services and Arts Development. It is managed by artist, Nina Squire, and Maggie Garforth, Project Co-ordinator.
Facilities
Holten Lee just outside Poole is a unique, secluded part of Dorset where visitors can get away from the stresses of life and find time and space for personal growth through access to the arts and the natural environment. The artistic vision of Holton Lee is to become the UK’s leading contemporary arts organisation emphasising Disability Arts and innovative arts practice. They create exhibitions, publications, multimedia, education, and research projects designed to bring the work of disabled artists to the attention of the widest national and international public, and to re-situate this work within the context of contemporary curatorial practice. Holton Lee is establishing an architect-designed arts building and national resource, based within its unique 350 acre environmental SSSI in Dorset, for the National Disability Arts Collection and Archive (NDACA).
Disability arts development agencies
Anna Shiels at the Borough of Poole's Arts Development Unit is the Borough's contact for disability arts.
Kaleido (formerly Equata) is the leading organisation in the south west working to develop and promote Disability and Deaf Arts with arts organisations and promoters across the south west. Its website is a hub of information on items such the Disability Arts movement, advice for artists on the benefits trap and steps towards becoming self employed.
