Disabled Artists and Performers Guild Launched
By Robyn Hunt (robyn@iecho.co.nz)
Interest is growing for the formation of an International Guild of Disabled Artists and Performers.
The guild is the brainchild of Philip Patston, comedian, writer, consultant and general Renaissance man based in Auckland, New Zealand.
Support for an international guild has come from the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Insipired by kickstART
The idea arose following Philip's participation as an invited quest in the kickstART! International Celebration of Disability Arts and Culture in Vancouver, Canada earlier this year
'This Celebration highlighted the distinct perspectives and creativity of artists and performers with all types of disabilities. The four-day event provided an opportunity to explore new territory in visual and literary arts, dance, theatre, music, film, video, and humour. Morning symposium sessions and participatory workshops brought together Canadian artists with disabilities to meet and learn from each other and from invited international guests.' Philip says
He is enthusiastic about the opportunity for artists of all kinds to work together.
"Art and performance - be it literary, dance, theatre, music, film, video, or humour - are magic and creative forces. Mix them with the experience of disability and they become a miraculous expression of the illusion of limitation and proof of the existence of infinite human potential," Philip says
"During the rest of my stay in Vancouver I couldn't shake the thought that the energy of kickstART! - and particularly the union of the artists and performers - could not be allowed to dissipate. In order for the disability arts movement to mature and develop there needs to be a way for disabled artists and performers to communicate, share ideas, be represented and promoted, and continue to build a global presence, in both the artistic and disability communities.
"There are many organizations, such as the Society for Disability Arts and Culture (S4DAC) in Canada, the National Institute for Arts and Disability (NIAD) in the USA And Arts in Action in Australia, which organise and promote disability arts and performance events.
"However, there does not seem to be an international organization of artists and performers with disability. I think there needs to be. I think it's time.
Proposed functions
"I would see such an organization performing a number of functions, including:
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Representing the global interests of artists and performers with disability
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Facilitating the development of the global disability arts and culture movement
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Being the leading international authority on disability arts, performance and culture
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Advocating appropriate working conditions for disabled artists, including fees and accessibility
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Promoting the value and presence of disability arts and culture to the global disability and mainstream communities
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Establishing global and regional agencies for artists and performers with disability
"I would like to see the organization offering full membership to artists and performers with disability and interested disabled people. Associate membership would be available to anyone else involved in, interested in or supportive of the global disability arts and culture movement.
"I am suggesting the name of the organization be the International Guild of Disabled Artists and Performers (IGODAP). I purposely use the term "disabled" rather than "with disability" for two reasons:
"It reflects a socio-political understanding of disability whereby people with impairments are disabled by society's attitudes and barriers and it makes for a far better acronym - IGODAP as opposed to IGOAPWD.
Why international?
"I think initially the organization should be established internationally rather than locally in different countries and regions. A global presence is far weightier than smaller local entities and allows for a richer networking potential. However, as the organization grows in size and activity there may well be the need to form smaller affiliate bodies.'
Interest in an international guild of disabled artists and performers has encouraged Philip to develop a simple and accessible web page and subscription process to begin building the guild. At present there is no membership fee. The web page is located at http://www.diversitynz.com/igodap/.
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