Innovations in Arts Programming + Supports + Learning

Speakers: Bruce Barton (University of Calgary), Amanda MacKay (Leighton Art Centre), adam patrick bell (University of Calgary), Howard Jang (ArtSpring), Jenna Reid (Kickstart Disability Arts & Culture), Stefan Honisch (Simon Fraser University)

Watch the panel discussion.

Critical to the growth and success of artists living with developmental disabilities is the role of organizations that play a central role in our arts and culture ecosystem. These organizations include postsecondary institutions, arts-focused organizations, disability arts organizations, and others. This panel brought together a diverse range of panelists who each brought their unique perspectives on how their respective roles and organizations can evolve to better support neurodiverse artists.

Bottom line: it’s just good practice.

“Organizations will do well by asking artists, musicians, and creative practitioners with disabilities on what kind of access needs they need to bring forward,” said Stefan Honisch. “Though it should not be required for disabled people to disclose their access needs or information about their disability.”

Most importantly, the approach to welcoming and working with artists with neurodiverse backgrounds is to be genuine and authentic, according to adam patrick bell, who talked about an exciting project that will bring the world of music making closer to artists living with developmental disabilities, thanks to a SSHRC grant.

But often finding an approach doesn’t begin with asking questions – but just doing. Amanda MacKay from the Leighton Art Centre, which hosted a contingent of neurodiverse artists as part of its artist residency program, shared that it was this experience that sparked a new series of questions for their organization to assess their programs.

“Which programs provide access? Which programs prevent access? What do we need to do differently? How do we structure our programs and our organization differently to increase access and inclusion?”

Howard Jang, formerly of the Banff Centre and now with ArtSpring, agrees, and believes that the questions asked of an organization needs to focus on impact, who and what one is in service to, and what an organization is committed to, rather than simply attached to.

“Some things may be ‘nice to do,” added Howard. “But they may not accomplish the impact and the service you desire.”

Jenna Reid, who disclosed her lived experience with a disability, said it’s important to understand the realm of disability arts is a lot broader than simply the perspectives of service providers.

“We may actually be missing a whole ton of rich and deep knowledge, privileging particular stories and communities within disability arts,” said Jenna. “And we may be erasing a lot of the radical kind of histories of where it’s come from.”

“It’s important to think about what we know about the histories of disability and mad movement organization,” she added. “That’s at the heart of disability art and culture – and that matters.”

“Access is more than a checklist. It is relationship-built.”

One fundamental question that was asked: “How do we get funders to the table? That would help issues around sustainability.”

Howard added that advocacy needs to play a central role in raising awareness around the disability arts, understanding that often this may be a “square peg, round hole” reality around the needs of artists with disabilities and disabilityserving organizations versus funder priorities.

“We have to be articulate about the impact we desire, and clarity around who we are in service to,” said Howard. “That is our case for support.”

Delegate feedback:

“I was particularly struck by some of Jenna Reid’s comments during the conference about the importance of the Community Living and Disability Arts sectors education ourselves on the radical grassroots activists and artists who have been engaging in these topics for many decades and from whom we have a lot to learn.” Learn more about adam patrick bell’s project in partnership with the National accessArts Centre.

Learn more about the Leighton Arts Centre’s artist residency initiative in partnership with the National accessArts Centre.