Disability culture to take a giant leap
By Robyn Hunt (robyn@iecho.co.nz)

The International Guild of Disabled Artists and Performers is planning an international event it says will further the development and innovation of disability culture worldwide.

The Giant Leap International Disability Art, Performance and Culture Conference and Festival will be held in May 2004 in Auckland, New Zealand.

The conference and festival is planned for 12-16 May 2004 to follow the High Beam Festival in Adelaide to allow artists to make the most of being downunder.

The theme of the conference is taking a "giant leap" towards a co-ordinated, international disability arts and culture movement.

Brief, initial expressions of interest are invited by July 22nd, 2003 from disabled artists and performers as well as people working in the disability arts arena around the world.

GODAP is inviting papers, presentations, workshops and displays in any of the four conference streams:

Professional development and artistic management
Including the place of disability in the development of art and performance and in the creative process, managing disability as an artist or performer, role modelling and mentoring

Marketing, promotion and audience development
For example marketing disabled people's art and performance and developing mainstream and disability sector audiences, the relevance of material for audiences and their association with disability art

Advocacy and access
Ensuring the needs and rights of disabled artists and performers are accommodated by venue operators, events organisers, promoters, funders, etc)

Developing a global disability culture
Defining disability culture; raising awareness and developing an international disability festival circuit

A two-day festival will follow the three-day conference. Initial expressions of interest for still art displays, stand-alone performances or contributions to showcase/cabaret events for the festival and the conference are also sought.

All expressions of interest should be sent to igodap@igodap.org, including:

• name and contact details (please include an email address)
• location
• artistic genre or role in disability arts movement
• title and/or brief description of paper, presentation, workshop, display and or performance
• whether or not you intend to attend High Beam in Adelaide.
• a cv or resume if possible