2024

Appointments: DASH Curator and Director of New Art West Midlands July 2024

Colette Griffin by Pete Martin and Jade Foster by Tom Platinum Morley.

DASH appoints Jade Foster into the new role of Curator and Colette Griffin as Director of New Art West Midlands.

DASH names Colette Griffin as Director of New Art West Midlands,championing artist development and sector support in the West Midlands region
Jade Foster appointed to the new Curator role

DASH has appointed two new senior roles, as Colette Griffin is named Director of New Art West Midlands and Jade Foster joins the organisation as Curator.

As Director of New Art West Midlands (NAWM), Colette Griffin will champion regional arts practice and provide sector support within the West Midlands region. NAWM is hosted by DASH and is part of CVAN, the nationwide contemporary visual arts network that leads the collective agenda for policy change in the visual arts.

Colette has three years' experience working with CVAN as Regional Director of Contemporary Visual Arts Network East Midlands, a role that will now carries out alongside her work with NAWM. Prior to joining DASH, Colette was Artist Development Curator at Primary (Nottingham) and a director of New Midland Group.

Colette Griffin comments, “I'm thrilled to be working with DASH to lead NAWM into an exciting new period guided by the region's artists, arts workers and organisations. I've had the privilege of working as Regional Director of CVAN EM since 2021 and will call on experiences and learning from this role to help maintain and build sustainable infrastructures in the West Midlands.

“Working across the East and West Midlands I can identity, support and create opportunities for vital cross-regional programming, connectivity and resource sharing, whilst ensuring both networks maintain their distinct identities, responding to the ambitions and challenges that are unique to each region.”

Craig Ashley, Chair of DASH and Co-Chair of New Art West Midlands, adds “Colette's appointment as Director of New Art West Midlands is incredibly exciting and marks an important next step for the network, working in close partnership with DASH to create defining opportunities for artists and arts workers. She brings with her a wealth of experience and expertise, both as an artist and from her work with the wider Contemporary Visual Arts Network. Prioritising inclusivity and accessibility in our sector support role and activity, Colette has outlined an ambitious vision for New Art West Midlands to advocate for artists and the visual arts in our region. We can't wait to get started!”

Jade Foster joins DASH in July 2024 in the new role of Curator. A British curator, artist and art historian of Afro-Caribbean heritage, Jade is based in Nottingham and hails from Sandwell in the West Midlands. Prior to joining DASH, Jade was the Public Programme Curator at Primary (Nottingham) where they lead the development of exhibitions and digital commissions. Jade has also worked with Hospital Rooms, QUAD, New Art Exchange and Glasgow International. Jade has an art studio at BACKLIT (Nottingham) and is a member of AWITA, the British Art Network and the Black Curators Collective. Jade will continue to advocate for cultural workers at DASH, putting a critical and anti-racist voice at the organisation's heart.

Heather Peak, Artistic Director of DASH, comments “I am super delighted to welcome Jade Foster and Colette Griffin to the DASH team. They will bring huge experience and an expansive thoughtful practice to DASH in their newly created roles as Curator and New Art West Midlands Director, and we are looking forward to working together with them and our artists, arts workers and audiences.”

“DASH will also be shortly recruiting another new role, Executive Director, so please look out for information on our socials to join DASH and be part of our warm, curious, supportive and creative organisation”.

DASH is a Disabled-led visual arts organisation that creates new work and develops meaningful opportunities for disabled artists. To date, DASH has chalked up two decades of important work with representation and collaboration at its heart. From programmes for Young Disabled Artists through to shaping strategic roles for Disabled curators, DASH's work has helped to support Disabled people at all stages of a creative practice.

ENDS.

For more information contact Helen Stallard on Helen@helenstallard.co.uk or call 0774 033 9604

Notes for Editors:

About DASH
DASH is a Disabled-led visual arts charity. It creates opportunities for Disabled artists to develop their creative practice. These opportunities take many forms, from high quality commissions to community based workshops, the work it creates is centred around its vision and mission.

DASH works with artists, audiences, communities and organisations to challenge inequality and implement change.

With a history of work including visual arts, dance, theatre, live arts and festivals in Shropshire since the mid-1990s, DASH became a limited company and registered charity in 2001 and in 2004 secured revenue funding from Arts Council England. In 2009 DASH took the decision to specialise its work in visual arts, while expanding its geographical boundaries.

During the last ten years DASH has undertaken truly ground-breaking work – projects that have challenged perceptions, fostered and mentored new Deaf and Disabled artists, encouraged professional development and helped to engineer change in the sector.

DASH partners and funders include Arts Council England,Esmeé Fairbairn Foundation, and Art Fund. DASH is a member of the Plus Tate Network.
www.dasharts.org

DASH Operations Director, Paula Dower takes on new role after 20 years. June 2024

DASH Operation Director, Paula Dower

It is with great sadness, but immense gratitude that we are bidding farewell to our Operations Director Paula Dower, after 20 years DASH. Paula has played a key role in the ongoing development and success of DASH over the last two decades, securing over £1 million of funding over this time to support disabled artists, developing training, and running the charity operations with one hand alongside artistic projects such as Art Express, Processions, and the Future Curators Programme with the other.

Paula is bringing her vast experience to a new role in the charity sector as Head of Fundraising and Development for RSVP.

The DASH staff team and board would like to say a BIG and heartfelt thank you Paula for all of her endeavours over the last two decades, we wish her every success in her new role.

Farewell from Paula

My DASH journey began in 2004 when I became the General Manager, but my two day a week job quickly turned into three after taking on the Information Officer post. There were three staff: Mike Layward, Tanya Raabe-Webber and me. Looking back, I was so naïve about the fight for Disability Rights and Equality, but I had fantastic teachers in Tanya and Mike. We had a tiny office on the outskirts of Shrewsbury, so we got to know each other very well.

By 2009 DASH had moved premises twice, an increase in funding meant we could rent our own 'Space' with an office and huge open plan area for workshops, training and events. That's when I first got the fundraising bug, with various pots of local money the new home of DASH was supplied with all manner of art materials, tables, chairs, a gallery hanging system, lighting, projection equipment, a kitchen, and of course an accessible loo! (Check the newspaper article in the Archive from 2009).

Sadly, the investment in the premises was short-lived, as a reduction in funding in 2011 meant we could not keep the Space and so we moved to The Hive in the centre of Shrewsbury, where we were made to feel very at home by the Hive team. We felt we had lost a lot, but it was time to regroup and reimagine DASH. This is when I became Operations Director and my role expanded to formally include fundraising for DASH. The artists commissioning programmes were still being funded, led by Mike, but I felt that we may lose our roots in Shropshire, so I created and fundraised for Art Express

I have worked on many collaborative projects during my time at DASH, but one of my favourites has to be the PROCESSIONS project in 2018. DASH was one of 100 organisations invited by live art organisation Artichoke to produce a banner to celebrate the centenary of the first votes for women. The Shropshire banner was created by over one hundred women and girls, who called themselves the Shropshire Subversive Stitchers, they proudly paraded their banner shouting “WE ARE HERE!” in Cardiff on 10th June 2018. It was a fantastic day, and I was so happy to have been able to provide the opportunity for their voices to be heard.

In 2021 I began my Senior Leaders Masters Degree Apprenticeship at the University of Wolverhampton. My dissertation project was titled “Barriers to Boards: Understanding the lack of representation of disabled people as board members in visual arts organisations in the UK,” aligning with DASH's work to place disabled people in leadership positions in arts and culture. I achieved a Master of Business Administration with Distinction and became a certified fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

It is now 2024 and after 20 years at DASH I have chosen to move to pastures new. I am delighted and excited to be taking the position of Head of Fundraising and Development at RSVP, a charity that is incredibly important to me. It has been a fabulous journey at DASH, working with a team that is understanding, flexible and supportive. I have met so many wonderful people in my time and learned so much. I will always be grateful for the sharing of knowledge, support and kindness so many of you have given. I will always support DASH and wish everyone the very best of luck for the future.

DASH on the press at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham 13 April

On Saturday 13 April DASH operated the antique printing press as part of Ikon Gallery's Start the Press! as well as and introduced the new DASH Library.

The team worked on ideas new DASH branding and libray book plates as well as shared our thinking about DASH, Disability arts and systems change.

2023

Remembering Jonathan Hyams October 2023: It is with great sadness that I have to share the news that the former Chair of DASH, Jonathan Hyams, passed away on Friday 27^th October. Jonathan had been quite ill for the last year, with many spells in hospital. I am however, comforted to know that he was with his family and at peace when he died.

Jonathan was a tremendous supporter of DASH; I cannot remember a meeting that he missed since he joined the board in 2008. He also volunteered his time to attend staff meetings to ensure the staff team had the support of the board and provided mentoring to both myself and Mike Layward in our roles as co-directors of DASH.

He was generous sharing his knowledge, skills and experience in equality, anti-oppression and community action gained as a practitioner, mentor and trainer for over twenty-five years. He wrote many DASH policies including equality, complaints, grievance, quality assurance, ex-offenders, whistleblowing, anti-bullying and harassment, menopause and most recently the DASH Anti-Oppression Promise.

I really got to know Jonathan when he helped to deliver DASH's first Disability Equality Training workshops for artists, alongside disabled artist Tanya Raabe-Webber. Ensuring that our community of workshop leaders understood issues about accessibility for disabled people. His kindness, patience and humour helped to make the workshops a great success.

He was proud to be considered an Awkward Bastard, never shirking the responsibility to stand up for equity, and advocate and campaign for the rights of oppressed people to be heard and take part in society.

I will miss him tremendously.

Paula Dower

Operations Director

DASH (Disability Arts in Shropshire)

FCP In-Person Network Meet at Wysing Arts Centre July 2023: On Monday 10 July, the Future Curator Network partners met up in-person. Although the network regulary meets on Zoom, it was great to see each other in real life.

Thankyou to Wysing Arts Centre for hosting our #FutureCurators meet-up where we had open and honest discussion about making and holding space for disabled artists/curators, changing attitudes, structures a more!

DASH appoints artist Heather Peak as CEO and Artistic Director May 2023

Artist Heather Peak appointed as CEO and Artistic Director of DASH, the Disabled-led visual arts organisation.
Heather is known internationally for her artistic practice, being one half of duo Heather Peak and Ivan Morison
Heather will lead DASH in a period of development and expansion, alongside pursuing her artistic practice.

DASH, the Disabled-led visual arts organisation, has appointed Heather Peak as its new Artistic Director and CEO.

As an artist with an international profile, Heather is best known for her work as one half of artist duo Heather Peak and Ivan Morison. Heather will continue to pursue a personal artistic practice alongside her work leading and developing DASH.

In assuming this role at DASH, Heather will also become the co-chair of New Art West Midlands, the regional Contemporary Visual Arts Network, of whom DASH is now the regional host.

2022

Arts Minister Visits DASH Friday 18 November

The DASH arts team meet Lord Parkinson. Posing for a photo are DASH Chair, Craig Ashley; Admin Assistant, Esther Cartwright; Operations Director, Paula Dower; Trustee, artist Tanya Raabe-Webber and Lord Parkinson

On Friday 18 November, Arts Minister Lord Parkinson dropped into our base at the Hive in Shrewsbury and met with members of the team.

It was a great opportunity to tell the story of DASH and the importance of our work: cultivating spaces for extraordinary artists.

We explained how our work has, in recent years, been reaching artists and audiences nationally - in particular through the mentoring, curators programme and the We Are Invisible, We Are Visible project.

Following the news of our successful NPO bid we were also able to share our exciting plans for the future; including extending our network of partners through the Future Curators Programme.

DASH Continues as an NPO and Receives Uplift 4 November 2022

Grace Currie: WAIWAV

DASH: Cultivating spaces for extraordinary artists

DASH is pleased to announce that Arts Council England has approved an uplift in funding for the organisation as part of their investment programme for the period 2023 – 2026.

This essential funding means that we can continue our important work as a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO), removing the barriers to access for Disabled people in the visual arts, and establishing Disability arts practice as part of the mainstream. With the additional investment DASH will be equipped to deliver with greater ambition, force, and impact, through a more strategically driven and sector-leading role on Disability at the national level.

Our Chair, Craig Ashley, said: “D/deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent people remain significantly underrepresented as audiences, participants, creatives, and decision-makers across the creative industries. Arts Council England's investment today demonstrates their steadfast commitment to bringing about change, by enabling DASH to step up our efforts to tackle the causes and symptoms of this systemic inequality. The funding they have committed today will transform our organisation, helping us to grow and make more of a difference in the communities we serve.”

Area Director for Arts Council England, Peter Knott, said: "Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy great art and culture, no matter where they live in the country, which is why we're delighted to have increased our investment in DASH over the next three years. It'll be great to see them continue to support disabled visual artists, as well as using our funding to host the West Midlands Contemporary Visual Arts Network."

Over the next three years the additional investment means we can consolidate and build upon our current position as an active voice within prominent national and regional visual arts networks. It will afford a responsive programme of work that builds on the significant achievements of DASH to date, supporting Disabled people in creative practice at all stages – from aspiring artists to sector leaders. Increased funding means we will be able to grow our Disabled-led team, helping us to lead by example and blaze a trail towards a more radically accessible and inclusive sector.

DASH is delighted to host New Art West Midlands, the contemporary visual arts network for the West Midlands, as part of its National Portfolio Organisation funding from Arts Council England.

In preparation for the work ahead, DASH has recently undergone a rigorous period of organisational development and strategic review. Three new trustees have recently joined our dynamic board of trustees, and we will shortly be recruiting for a new Artistic Director / CEO to lead the organisation in our exciting next chapter. Together, we are prepared to grapple with the significant challenges facing Disabled artists over the next 3 years, intensified by COVID19 inequality and the cost-of-living crisis. And together, we are ready to respond to the opportunity of a sector and society that is finally taking notice of our potential.

The board and staff would like to say thank you to Arts Council England for their continued support. Together, much good has been achieved to address inequality over the years. We look forward to working with them to achieve the outcomes of the 'Let's Create' Strategy for artists, communities, and audiences. We extend our thanks too, to all our supporters who have made it possible to continue our work throughout the challenging past few years; our partners across the arts and cultural sector, our funders and all the individuals, artists, curators, freelancers, and participants who work to make DASH a success.

Arts Council England Chair, Sir Nicholas Serota, said: “As well as continuing our commitment to our many established and renowned cultural organisations, I am deeply proud of the support we will be giving to those new organisations which will help ignite creativity across the country. We are facing economic pressures at present but this funding is about an investment in our future. This portfolio will support the next generation of visionary inventors, makers, performers and artists. In particular, the growth of our funding for organisations that support and develop work for children represents a profoundly important long-term investment in our country's talent.”

Contact Craig Ashley

Telephone 07770 787725

Email chair@dasharts.org

Artistic Director Mike Layward Retires September 2022: In September 2022 Mike Layward retired as Artistic Director of DASH, a post he has held since 1999.

During his tenure, Mike has been instrumental in DASH gaining a national reputation as a leading Disability visual arts organisation. He has managed commissioning projects such as Inside, Tu Fewn and the Curatorial Residencies projects which has seen d/Deaf and Disabled artists commissioned to make new work and curate exhibitions in established mainstream art venues. Most recently, Mike led a team to secure the Ampersand Foundation Award for the ambitious We Are Invisible We Are Visible (WAIWAV) project, which saw 31 artists stage interventions in 30 galleries and arts venues across the UK.

Mike has also been key to developing and delivering mentoring schemes for d/Deaf, Disabled and neurodivergent artists, and establishing the 'Awkward Bastards' series of forums, which offered space to discuss difference and explore the issues and barriers facing artists with the mainstream visual arts.

A participant of the mentoring scheme said, “It has been a really amazing journey for me with DASH and the mentoring I have received .... through this mentoring scheme I have gained in confidence - ten fold!”

Mike's input to the 2017 publication 'The Incorrigibles: Perspectives on Disability Visual Arts in the 20th and 21st centuries', which was devised as an important resource to recognise and promote understanding of the recent history of Disability arts was invaluable, bringing together artists that DASH has worked with over the past two decades. The book aimed to promote the position of d/Deaf, Disabled and neurodivergent visual artists in the present, and to inspire new and more enlightened practices in the future.

Prior to joining DASH, Mike worked in the arts for nearly 40 years as a performer, musician, carnival designer, maker, puppeteer, producer, director and live artist. He has worked across the UK, France, Holland, Spain, Palestine and India.

Mike studied for an MA in Activism and Social Change (Leeds University) 2009, and his philosophy is based on the belief that the arts are and have to be a vehicle for Social change – a belief that has been the backbone of his work with DASH.

Staff have paid tribute to their much-loved colleague. Operations Director Paula Dower said,

“I have worked with Mike Layward, Artistic Director of DASH since September 2004. He truly is an Awkward Bastard, and he will be missed enormously by myself and all the team at DASH.

Mike has devoted the last 20+ years to DASH, taking leadership in Disability Visual Arts to a new level. His tireless enthusiasm for equality has seen over 20 galleries across the UK incorporating DASH's commissioning programmes into their organisations supporting Disabled visual artists to become the leaders of tomorrow.

During lockdown, Mike refused to step back, realising that this was the time that Disabled artists needed DASH the most. From March 2020 to September 2022, he mentored over 120 Disabled artists via Zoom.

Mike decided that his retirement year would see the biggest event to date, the largest single day takeover of 30 galleries across the UK, from Orkney to Cornwall and from Derry to Margate, with 31 artists. All involved, I hope, will be developing learning from the day that will further place Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent artists in the heart of arts and culture in the UK.

I hope this reflects on my appreciation of his work and his selfless dedication to Disability Rights, Disability Arts and Disabled people, especially during the pandemic.”

DASH's Chair Craig Ashley also paid homage to Mike:

“The contribution Mike has made as a driving force within DASH is immeasurable. From the high-profile work with galleries and museums to the hours and hours of mentoring to artists and curators that has gone largely unseen, he has enabled progress in a sector that is tough to change and made a substantive difference to organisations and individuals who work within the visual arts. For DASH, Mike has been a constant and an inspiration, galvanising the board and the team around a bold and provocative vision that has sought to playfully disrupt the visual arts mainstream, and made visible the challenges faced by Disabled people both in the sector and beyond it. He has provided a solid base from which DASH can continue to build as we move into our third decade, and we're incredibly grateful to him for all he has done.”

Mike will be undertaking a practical art course at Hereford College of Art, and will be continuing to work with the team in a freelance capacity advising on the Future Curators Programme.

The Board and staff team at DASH wish Mike all the best for his retirement.

DASH at Tate Late July 2022

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DASH at Tate Late

29 July 2022 at 18.00–22.00

DASH artists and WAIWAV artists featured in the Tate Late programme:

Workshop: Are You Comfortable Yet? with Anahita Harding
Are you comfortable yet? Artist Anahita Harding invites you to respond through written text, poetry or visual motifs. Your response will be shared and performed by invited guests throughout the night. All performances will be BSL interpreted.

Display: DASH– We Are Invisible We Are Visible

This month, 31 artists with disabilities set out to disrupt 30 locations with surreal interventions alongside the 102nd anniversary of the first DaDa International Exhibition. See the results of their work from We are invisible We are Visible.

Talks: Art Chats

19.00–19.30 Artist Davey Jose discusses how he explores his spinal injury in his work, hosted by his younger brother, presenter and teacher Bobby Seagull.

20.00–20.30 Artists Leah Clements and Amanda Lynch speak to Helen O'Malley, Producer of Community Programmes at Tate, about institutional change and artistic access in the cultural sector.

21.00–21.30 Meet artists Poppy Nash and Christopher Samuel for a discussion hosted by Senior Creative Producer, Liat RosenthalAll talks will be BSL interpreted.

Performance: Christina Lovey – Rhythmicity Me

In Rhythmicity Me, Christina Lovey uses rhythm tap to create sounds and vibrations that respond to artworks across the galleries. Here she shares her experience of processing data through rhythmic actions with viewers and the space. ( As seen at WAIWAV).

We Are Invisible We Are Visible - WAIWAV 2 July 2022

DaDa is dead. Long live DaDa!

On 2 July 2022, 31 Disabled artists disrupted 30 locations with surreal interventions, in recognition of the 102^nd anniversary of the first DaDa International Exhibition.

Alongside the interventions Disability Arts Online were commissioned by DASH to produce a Zine, distributed at venues on the day, as well as the WAIWAV website.

This will no doubt prove a valuable resource documenting Dada and Disability Arts.

104films.com were also commissioned by DASH to capture the essence of the day in rhte spirit of Dada.

Visit the WAIWAV website

New FCP Partners Announced February 2022

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MEDIA RELEASE
09/02/2022

Newlyn Art Gallery, John Hansard Gallery and ArtsCatalyst join the Future Curators Network

The Future Curators programme embeds disabled curators into visual arts organisations, with the aim of transforming deep inequality with the visual art sector. The Network of arts organisations committed to working with disabled curators now stretches from Cornwall to Teeside.

Three organisations were selected to join the Future Curators Network, which aims to address deep-rooted inequality against disabled people in the visual arts sector.

Newlyn Art Gallery & Exchange (Cornwall), John Hansard Gallery (Southampton) and Arts Catalyst (Sheffield) will join the network in 2022, joining existing members MIMA (Teeside), Wysing Arts Centre (Cambridge) and Midland Arts Centre (Birmingham). Disability Arts Online also joined the programme and will offering exciting digital opportunities.

The new members will host a disabled curator for a 15 month period, during which time the curator will become fully embedded within the organisation. The long-term nature of the residency allows genuine learning to take place on both sides – organisational norms that provide unwitting barriers to disabled people can be addressed, and the curator can gather valuable professional experience and develop their practice.

Each residency will result in a new exhibition or body of work, produced by the curator with the support of their host organisation. Disability Arts Online will be offering digital opportunities.

2021

DASH Celebrates 20 Year Anniversary September: In September, we celebrated DASH's 20th Birthday! We've worked on some great projects, with fabulous artists and organisations over the years.

We are passionate about our work and look forward to more exciting times ahead.

Curatorial Commissions: 'Version' Exhibition July - Aug 2021

Image Credit: Wilf Speller

Hannah Wallis completed her residency at Wysing Arts Centre during the summer of 2021, with the opening of 'Version', an exhibition of sound and sculpture works by sound artist Ain Bailey.

In collaboration with the artist, Hannah, who is deaf, will present Ain's installations around the Wysing site, looking at how sound can be understood and experienced in ways other than the mainstream.

Hannah Wallis comments, “A sense of openness on a daily basis is really important. We're all learning how to be different with each other, and being asked what you need is key; I believe it helps the entire team if everyone is thriving rather than struggling on in a system that isn't working. It took me years to accept the realities of my disability, and what is interesting about this residency is that it's brought me into this conversation in a new way, whereby I have the opportunity to affect change in a much more direct way.”

Hannah responded to Wysing's programme theme for 2020, which put broadcasting at the centre of the artistic programme - connecting with remote audiences in a way that enables the organisation to listen, as well as to transmit, ideas using digital and other technologies.

Throughout this exhibition, Bailey brings together sound and sculpture as means to expand on ideas and techniques of 'sonic biography', a generative methodology of sound exploration that the artist has finessed over the years.

The exhibition featured collaborations with Elaine Mitchener and Taylor Le Melle and ran from 12 July to 22 August.

View the exhibition archive.

Read the a-n interview by Orla Foster with Hannah Wallis which discusses her DASH Curatorial Commission residency at Wysing Arts Centre, and the resulting exhibition by Ain Bailey.

Future Curators Programme Launch 5 July 2021

Future Curators Programme

The Future Curators Programme 2023-2026 is a residency programme for Disabled curators within visual arts institutions.

The network put a call out looking for the 3 new partners to join the present 3 galleries to develop the next round of residencies from 2023 - 2026

They needed to be:

galleries based in England
There will be a financial contribution.
A copy of the FCP budget, detailing what this contribution will cover is available to view on the FAQ's page.

Each gallery would have a Disabled curator based within their space for a year (usually 1 day/week) plus a 3 month post residency period

Applications will be welcome from organisations in England who are committed to making genuine institutional change and diversifying the sector.

Since 2018, DASH has worked with mac, MIMA and Wysing Arts Centre to develop the Future Curators Programme, with each organisation hosting a Disabled curator for a 12 month period.

The programme has pointed up – and hopefully started to address – serious issues of access and representation for disabled people within the visual arts workforce. According to recent figures from Arts Council England, only 6% of permanent employees of regularly-funded visual arts organisations identify as disabled, compared with 21% of the working-age population*.

"Through years of working with disabled artists and seeking to make the visual arts sector more inclusive and accessible, it is clear to DASH that meaningful progress depends upon Disabled people taking positions of influence within visual arts organisations, rather than simply on well-meaning individual projects with limited long-term legacy.

The Future Curators Programme makes this meaningful change possible. Through the Curating Institutional Change events we hope to share our learning and explain how accessibility and inclusivity brings benefits to everyone – Disabled and non-Disabled people alike."

Mike Layward, Artistic Director of DASH

DASH wins prestigious Ampersand Foundation Award June: Ampersand Foundation Award

24 June 2021

DASH IS THE WINNER OF £150,000 AMPERSAND FOUNDATION AWARD

DASH, which supports and commissions the work of disabled artists, has won the 2021 Ampersand Foundation Award it was announced today.

DASH has a long history of producing provocative interventions that continue the legacy of Dada, Absurdism and Surrealism into the 21st century. DASH's Ampersand Award project, created in the spirit and essence of Dada, will involve 47 established and younger generation disabled artists.

Mike Layward, DASH's Artistic Director said: “To be awarded the Ampersand award for this surreal intervention will not only have a massive impact on Disability arts but will show that the visual arts institutions are now open and willing to change.”

Flor Souto, CEO of the Ampersand Foundation, said: “What we want to achieve with this award is to enable curators and directors working in an extremely tough funding environment to realise a project that they always have dreamt of doing but have been unable to do so far due to funding pressure. We hope DASH's winning project will be realised in a post-pandemic world and will help with the re-vitalisation of the sector.”

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair of Arts Council England, said: “This is exciting news for DASH and marks an important moment for Disabled artists and creatives across the country. The Ampersand Foundation Award is one of the most substantial and imaginative awards in the arts and is designed to help an organisation realise a 'dream' project. From commissioning new work, to mentoring and offering development opportunities for artists and creatives with disabilities, DASH's work always makes an impact and in a post-pandemic world this new project, involving 47 disabled artists, will inspire positive change through creativity.”

The Award is open to the 48 members of the Plus Tate network. It aims to enable the winning institution to realise its dream project in the form of an exhibition, new commission, public space intervention or any other kind of project. There are no restrictions on the subject or format of the proposal except that it must be delivered by a curator, director or a team of curators working within the institution.

The winner is awarded £125,000 to realise their proposal, and an additional £25,000 to produce a related publication. The remaining shortlisted institutions each receive £5,000.

The 5 shortlisted institutions for the 2021 edition of the Award were:

De La Warr Pavillion, Bexhill-on-Sea

Turner Contemporary, Margate

DASH, Shrewsbury (winner)

Focal Point Gallery, Southend-on-Sea

MK Gallery, Milton Keynes

The winner was selected by a judging panel composed of the following five members:

Jack Kirkland, Chairman, The Ampersand Foundation

Amalia Pica, Artist

Victoria Siddall, Trustee, The Ampersand Foundation
Alastair Sooke, Trustee, The Ampersand Foundation

Jonathan Watkins, Director, Ikon Gallery (and winner of the TAF Award inaugural edition)

(Please note Ikon Gallery did not enter this year).

Notes to Editors:

The Ampersand Foundation

The Ampersand Foundation was founded in 2011 by businessman, collector, and philanthropist Jack Kirkland to support the visual arts. The Foundation supports high-quality exhibitions and projects, provided they are free to the public at least one day per week. It also supports public collection expansion. The Foundation is focused mainly on supporting institutions and projects within the UK.

Curating Institutional Change Jun - July 2021: Three webinars that discuss how the visual arts sector can become more inclusive and accessible for Disabled people.

Curating Institutional Change: Rocking the Boat

This event focuses on how to challenge the normative structures at play which are built upon established methodologies and traditions of organisations.

How can we offer and model change without the institutions and organisations becoming fearful and resisting the change? How can we create, encourage and embed a process of meaningful transformation?

Curating Institutional Change: Care and Compassion

We expect the arts to be a naturally understanding, empathic, touchy feely environment. The reality is often far from this for institutions and organisations with the increasing pressures of inflated expectations, shrinking finances and, quite frankly, juggling an unrealistic number of balls.

Perhaps now more than ever we need to remember we are dealing with people. How do we slow things down a little and bring back the humanity? How can we care for our community of artists, curators, administrators, cleaners and the CEO in the same meticulous way we attend to the art works?

Curating Institutional Change: InsideOut OutsideIn

How can organisations change from gatekeeping to welcoming a wider constituency? What benefits can be gained by re-evaluating the structures and roles of an organisation and who has access to it?

This event explores how active inclusive organisational change can enrich the day-to-day life within an organisation or institution.

This event includes the launch for the next cohort of Institutions and organisations to be part of the network and host a disabled curator: Future Curators Programme.

All three events are available to view on the Curating Institutional Change page.

Worlds Within Worlds April - July 2021

Worlds Within Worlds

DASH sought artists from beginners to the more experienced to take part in a series of online workshops.

These inclusive short courses were designed to inspire disabled creatives during these challenging times.

Each course was led by an experienced artist who guided the young artists through their world of creative practices and art forms.

Follow the links below to explore further.

The 'Worlds': Three Short Art Courses:

World One: “Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form”

World Two: “My Magical Me in a Magical World”

World Three: “Kommemoration”

BEAST Programme April - July

BEAST Training Programme

This pilot training programme for our artist mentees began in April and ran until July and was very well received by participants.

During the last 12 months DASH has mentored nearly 100 artists, many of whom expressed the need for training in technical skills, such as photo editing and business administration. Funding from Arts Council England's Culture Recovery Fund, has made it possible for us to create the BEAST! Business Education and Skills Training.

We hope that the evaluation of the pilot programme will enable us to seek further funding for an ongoing, wider programme of development for Disabled Artists.

Here is what some of the attendees had to say:

"This was an incredible workshop - the information shared will have an immensely positive impact on my life and ability to be a professional artist. Thank you so much!"

"The best workshop I've been to for years. So clear and relevant. Surpassed my expectations. Thank you"

Awkward Bastards at Home Jan - May 2021

Awkward Bastards at Home

The Awkward Bastards are back!

This year DASH commissioned five films to reflect life as a Disabled Artist during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

These included:

'Professional Management Communication' by Aaron Williamson

'fragisle' by gobscure

'What was the Question Again?' by Emma Plover

The Desert Mountains & Dreary Glaciers are My Refuge by Ashokkumar Mistry

A Rough Guide to Ceilings by Lisette Auton

2020

Protest Art Exhibition Dec 2020

In 2020, during the Lockdown, DASH invited artists, both professional and non-professional to submit work for an online exhibition of Protest Art.

This was an opportunity to creatively comment on the short comings both before and during the pandemic. What needs to be addressed? What needs to change?

View the exhibition on our Gallery Page.

Exhibition Artists:

Saverio Cantoni
Saverio is inspired by manipulating perceptions, altering the well-known sensorial sphere to develop awareness towards more inclusive and tolerant narratives. Being a disabled artist himself, he started from personal experiences to explore a connective cultural exercise.
www.saveriocantoni.eu

Richard Downes
Richard is an emerging socially engaged activist poet who also uses photography. He is an associate artist with Disability Arts Online, Poet in residence at Hornsey Town Hall facebook Group, facilitator of a poetry group at The Highgate Society and Curator of poetry events at Collage Arts.

His work is about his personal experience of disability, a response to the social model of disability and ideas of forming and working with communities.

You can find out more about Richard and view more of his work using the links below.

Richard also has 2 poems featured on the DASH Blog page:
Acorn The Fire Goes Out Then it Burns Again and Declaration14 - Insane Asylums for the Politically Mad

Disability Arts Online
outsidein.org.uk/galleries/read-rhymes/
detrich.wordpress.com/
www.youtube.com/channel/UC50-0MzUWmlkdSstkVhS1Fw?view_as=subscriber

Finn
Finn is profoundly Deaf and was born with a degenerative eye condition. While sighted, he studied at the London International Film School. With his passion for story-telling, he studied a Masters in computer animation. Because he is now Blind, he changed career path to become a conceptual artist.

In 2017/18 Finn was a recipient of DASH mentoring project, Cultivate, for disabled artists in West Midlands and was mentored by Senior Research Fellow David Prytherch PhD, FHEA, HFGE; a glass engraver/sculptor, who introduced Finn the subject of haptic (touch) interfaces. Dash matched Finn with artist Dean Melbourne, who continues to mentor Finn and network him into the West Midlands Visual Arts scene.

Finn is currently commissioned for an R&D project by National Arts Award for Deaf and Disabled artists, Unlimited to develop a virtual fish tank that the user explores using HaloLens and Haptic technology. Finns research is timely given that the current situation means we've suddenly lost the freedom to 'touch'.

CL Gamble
Organiser and workshop leader of Blanket Fort.

Blanket Fort is an ongoing participatory project which aims to create a protective & comforting space to people, a structure to celebrate solidarity among activists, survivors and anyone who would like to take part! Details and galleries can be found at http://blanketfort.family

The Staying Inn is a virtual pub started to provide community, workshops & entertainment such as pub quizzes during lockdown. With an eye on Disability activism & inclusion, the Staying Inn is raising funds to continue providing events for Disabled people still shielding.

Community members featured on The Staying Inn panel so far:

Purple and Blue, small denim patch:
Twitter: Stedders1975

Blackwork sampler: Anne
Twitter & Instagram: @steelgoldfish

Colourful Crossed Crutches: Daisy Holder - The Chronic Invalid.
Twitter: @DaisyHolder
Instagram: @HolderDaisy

Nothing About Us Cross stitch by Marie:
Twitter:@MrsRieB

Ruth Hamblett
Ruth was diagnosed with her disability later on in life, she felt often that this world is a cruel place where rules change for those with concealed disabilities.

During her lifetime she has seen lots change for women but there is still the need for equality regardless of age. (Most art opportunities are ageist and aimed at younger people or those who have just finished university).

A mature, emerging or newly formed artists are being asked to pay to enter art opportunities then not given any type of feed back about their art work and how to improve or why it was rejected this that causes lack of confidence.

Ruth also sees discrimination in use of technology for a new modern way of those who have money to make art, but, for those on low incomes, that person is prevented from fully engaging within a computerised society. Including up-to-date computers, laptops, mobile phones and are unable to engage with IT such as Insgram, Etsy, Twitter or newly formed Zoom to promote and possibly sell their art.
ruthhamblett.blogspot.com

Alan Hopwood
The work in the exhibition started out as an information leaflet from a mainstream art gallery. Alan used various methods to transform it. Exploring and exploiting the flaws and limitations within various image making processes, such as printing; photography and digital media.

Alan has used the visual opportunities to change this mainstream art leaflet into something that talks about his life as a disabled person and an image that has a relationship with the disability arts movement.

Alan has been on the DASH mentoring programme with and is involved in Disability Arts Online.
www.alanhopwood.com
Twitter: @alanhopwood

Mark Noble
2020 has been a difficult and often overwhelming year. As a creative artist with autism and severe dyslexia, Mark struggles to communicate with words. Instead, he uses art as a visual language and firmly believes that it can play an important role in helping people deal with mental health issues.
www.marknoble.art

Ceridwen Powell
Ceridwen is a disabled and disability artist based in Llanfair Caereinion, Montgomeryshire, Mid-Wales. She has had no formal art training, but instead experiments with ideas and materials and takes an instinctive approach. She is an abstract artist and enjoys working in acrylics, oils and watercolour, and also digital photography.
www.ceridwenpowellart.com
www.saatchiart.com/CeridwenPowell

Joy Turner
Joy was motivated to make it after seeing similar notices whenever she attended appointments.

DASH Joins Plus Tate Nov 2020

DASH Joins PlusTate Network

DASH Joins Plus Tate Network

Thirteen Visual Arts organisations join Plus Tate Network, with focus on Community, innovation and Internationalism.

The Plus Tate Network today announces that 13 more visual arts organisations will join, taking the cohort of member organisations across the country to 48. Launched in 2010, Plus Tate shares collections and expertise to build a network that exchanges knowledge, skills and resources to strengthen the contemporary visual arts ecology in the UK. The announcement comes alongside news that Tate has moved its national partnerships department to Liverpool under director Helen Legg.

The new members range in size and include universities, collection-based galleries and non-venue organisations, all with a commitment to better reflecting their local communities and developing close connections with a range of audiences. Among the new Plus Tate partners are Iniva (Institute of International Visual Arts), whose programme reflects on the social and political impact of globalisation; DASH, a disabled-led organisation that creates opportunities for disabled artists to develop their creative practice; Void, a contemporary art space commissioning a diverse range of artistic practices which places participation, engagement and learning at its heart; and Autograph, which explores identity, representation, human rights and social justice through photography and film.

The reach of the network across the UK is demonstrated by its new members, with two galleries in Dundee and four in London, along with a host of institutions across northern England, galleries in southern coastal towns and another in Derry~Londonderry.

Helen Legg, Director of Tate Liverpool, said: 'The significance of a coordinated, national network of galleries has never been clearer with the impact of COVID on the sector, and the spirit of sharing knowledge and skills as we build back will only become more important. The new members bring with them a wealth of insight and artistic excellence, while each has a distinctive voice that will strengthen the network further. The value and potential of Plus Tate lies in the agency of its diverse members, which are spread across the UK's regions and communities, to collectively shape the future of the visual arts sector in the UK.'

Mary Cremin, Director, Void Gallery, said: 'These are challenging times in the arts sector so to be part of this network will allow Void to work and collaborate with our colleagues across the UK to create new models and ways of thinking in how to create a sustainable and supportive arts sector and community.'

The Plus Tate network is a major part of Tate's national partnerships division which has moved to Liverpool,, reaffirming a regional ambition and focus. This underlines Tate's commitment to supporting a national visual arts infrastructure, and its understanding of the specific challenges facing the sector beyond London. As well as Plus Tate, the National partnerships team work with Tate Britain to facilitate the Turner Prize during the years it is held outside London, and coordinate the British Art Network. All four Tate sites are members of Plus Tate.

The new Plus Tate partners are: Autograph, Gasworks, Iniva and The Showroom in London; Cooper Gallery and Dundee Contemporary Arts in Dundee; DASH in Shropshire; De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea; Focal Point Gallery in Southend-on-Sea; Leeds Art Gallery; New Art Exchange in Nottingham; Site Gallery in Sheffield; and Void in Derry~Londonderry. Manchester Art Gallery will also join its sister gallery, the Whitworth, as part of the network.

Elvira Dyangani Ose, Director at The Showroom, said: 'We are committed to supporting artists who have not previously had a significant exposure in London and have a strong track record of producing ambitious commissions with artists at a critical point in their careers. Organisational partnerships are key to expanding the potential of our work, we collaborate with a broad network of like-minded organisations both in the UK and abroad, and we could not be more delighted to be joining Plus Tate at this time.'

Mike Layward, Artistic Director DASH, said: 'To be invited to join the Plus Tate network is an important moment for DASH that recognises the work that we undertake supporting and commissioning the work of Disabled artists and the support that DASH gives to mainstream galleries to work with Disabled artists. We look forward to developing relationships that are mutually beneficial across the network that will allow us all to grow and diversify as organisations.'

Judith Harry, Executive Director, Site Gallery said: 'I am thrilled that Site Gallery is joining Plus Tate. The network presents a real opportunity for me and my team to connect with colleagues across the country, sharing experiences and expertise as well as facing our future challenges together. There is such a need in these uncertain times for the strength of networks and our membership couldn't be more timely.'

Curatorial Commissions: Thresholds Online Exhibition Oct 2020

Thresholds - Curated by Aidan Moesby

This digital exhibition curated by Aidan Moesby, explored the impact of Covid-19 on relationships to home.

The exhibition comprised of new films and photographs by artists Sonia Boué, Lindsay Duncanson and Catriona Gallagher, developed, in response to their experiences of 2020.

It included an essay by Jade French co-commissioned with Corridor8.

The exhibition was organised as part of Aidan Moesby's curatorial associateship with MIMA through their partnership programme with DASH, MAC and Wysing Arts Centre. This national partnership supports the development of Disabled curators.

Visit the exhibition here.

Hear from MIMA curator Elinor Morgan on working with Aidan Moesby through the pandemic at Disability Arts Online.

Garfield Weston Funding Oct 2020: DASH Receives Garfield Weston Funding

Disability Arts in Shropshire (DASH) is pleased to announce that it has received £30,000 Grant funding from Garfield Weston ensuring the continued work supporting Disabled visual artists, nationwide.

The pandemic is having disproportionate health and economic impacts on most Disabled people, but is even more damaging to the majority of Disabled artists because of the unpredictability of their income, and hence the limitations on available support, along with the obstacles to accessing systems which have been hurriedly developed. A recent national survey demonstrates that artists are seeing stark impacts on their lives, with around 60% of those surveyed anticipating a reduction in income of over 50% this year.

During Covid-19 DASH have been working remotely supporting Disabled visual artists nationally through mentoring and funding advice, helping to shape their work and their applications for funding.

Here is what some DASH artists had to say:

“DASH's approach to personalised mentoring has created a tailormade service allowing me to express myself creatively and professionally”

“Having a clear path has made my design and creating process easier. For the first time in ages, I am not second guessing myself, I am just creating."

“I have found DASH to be so valuable for me. The barriers I face as a dyslexic artist are bridged with the support of my mentor. He is able to detect and ask what my specific needs are. I am given motivation and bite size tasks to work on.”

DASH wishes to express thanks to Garfield Weston for their support. With funding of £30,000 to deliver its core work, Garfield Weston will help make a difference to the lives and livelihoods of 150+ disabled artists over the next two years. It will enable DASH to focus its staff resource on securing project funding for new programmes of work and developing our income streams further in response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In turn, with Garfield Weston's support, our community of Disabled people will feel valued and included; making a difference to their wellbeing.

Arts Council England Recovery fund. Sept 2020: DASH receives lifeline grant from Government's £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund

Disability Arts in Shropshire (DASH) is awarded £70,000 as part of the Government's £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future, the Culture Secretary has announced today.

DASH is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced today as part of the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.

DASH is a Disabled led visual arts charity. It creates opportunities for Disabled artists to develop their creative practice. These opportunities take many forms, from high quality commissions to community based workshops, the work it creates is centred around its vision and mission.

During the pandemic DASH have been working remotely supporting Disabled visual artists nationally through mentoring and funding advice, helping to shape their work and their applications for funding.

The majority of these artists are new to DASH and come from all areas of England, as well as Scotland, Wales and Europe.

With this funding DASH can increase the level of support to Disabled artists by employing freelance mentors.

Though our ability to deliver training has been impacted this funding will enable DASH to create a strong online programme which can be delivered more widely across the sector at a time of most need to support Disabled artists and audiences.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
“This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation. It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector's recovery.

“These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country. This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly

Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said:
“Theatres, museums, galleries, dance companies and music venues bring joy to people and life to our cities, towns and villages. This life-changing funding will save thousands of cultural spaces loved by local communities and international audiences. Further funding is still to be announced and we are working hard to support our sector during these challenging times.”

Craig Ashley, Chair of DASH said: “This is fantastic news for DASH and the artists and curators we work with. Our team at DASH have barely stopped this year, responding the challenges brought about by the pandemic and supporting Disabled people who have been disproportionately affected. This announcement recognises the efforts of our team, and Arts Council's ongoing commitment to diversifying the arts. This funding will enable us to reach more Disabled Artists, supporting them with mentoring and funding advice. It will give us much needed breathing space to secure our future and plan new programmes that respond effectively to the needs of Disabled artists. We would like to say a huge thank you to Arts Council England, DCMS and HM Treasury”

The National Lottery and the UK Government Emergency Funding August 2020: Disability Arts in Shropshire (DASH) is pleased to announce that it has received funding from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund and the UK Government.

During Covid-19 DASH has been working remotely supporting Disabled visual artists nationally through mentoring and funding advice, helping to shape their work and their applications for funding.

Disabled artists with whom we work confirm that the impact of the pandemic on them is disproportionately severe, creating feelings of isolation and exclusion which impact on their mental health. These feelings of isolation and exclusion, are increased not only by Covid-19, but for many the very technology, such as Zoom, that is providing an answer to non-disabled people.

This makes DASH's present work even more essential, as we seek to meet some of the needs of Disabled artists and support their mental health. These include providing Disabled artists with free on-line mentoring support, providing online work sharing, developing online resources in our work with young Disabled people as well as research into making online meeting platforms more accessible to Disabled people.

“Across all age groups, disabled adults make up a large proportion of adult internet non-users. In 2017, 56% of adult internet non-users were disabled, much higher than the proportion of disabled adults in the UK population as a whole, which in 2016 to 2017 was estimated to be 22%.”
Exploring the UK's Digital Divide – www.ons.gov.uk

Although some of our projects are on hold due to lockdown or the assessed high risk of our artists, we continue to support them. DASH has continued to work with these young artists by buying art materials and supporting them through telephone and Zoom meetings.

DASH wishes to thank the Coronavirus Community Support, distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund, and thanks the Government for making this possible.

DASH looks forward to continuing to support to Disabled Artists in the coming months, responding to new ways of living and working and the challenges it brings.

For more details about the work of DASH visit www.dasharts.org
Contact: Operations Director, Paula Dower: paula@dasharts.org
m: 07483 162541

DASH Receives Paul Hamlyn Donation July 2020: Disability Arts in Shropshire (DASH) is pleased to announce that DASH has received an emergency grant from Paul Hamlyn Foundation in response to the pandemic and the effect that Covid-19 has had on both the organisation and the many Disabled artists DASH are supporting.

Throughout the pandemic DASH have continued to work with artists remotely, providing free mentoring, access advice and signposting. This support has benefited both the professional and working practice of Disabled artists as well as their wellbeing, during what has been a difficult, isolating, and frustrating period.

Since the beginning of lockdown DASH has mentored 49 d/Deaf, Disabled and neurodiverse artists nationally and internationally and continues to receive requests for help. Here is what some of the artists had to say:

“The support from Dash is so valuable, as I struggle with funding applications as a disabled artist. Often the administration processes are inaccessible and getting that boost and person-centred input, gives you more opportunities, confidence and control to develop your practice.”
Artist Mentee 2020

“I have found DASH to be so valuable for me. The barriers I face as a dyslexic artist are bridged with the support of my mentor. He is able to detect and ask what my specific needs are. I am given motivation and bite size tasks to work on. DASH has enabled me to engage with a support network that recognises my strengths and weaknesses. I am always left inspired that I'm on my path.”
Artist Mentee 2020

The impact of COVID-19, the lockdown and the measures taken to control the virus as we re-enter public spaces has been massive; the full consequences of which have yet to be discovered.

DASH wishes to thank the Paul Hamlyn Foundation for their generous emergency grant and is delighted that the foundation recognises and values not just the work of DASH, but that of the artists that benefit from it.

DASH looks forward to continuing to support to Disabled Artists in the coming months, responding to new ways of living and working and the challenges it brings.

For more details about the work of DASH visit www.dasharts.org
Contact: Operations Director, Paula Dower: paula@dasharts.org
m: 07483 162541

*ENDS

Art Influencers June - July 2020

Art Influencers

Art Influencers - A Guided Tour of Art History

This course was designed as an introduction to art history and aimed at creatives aged 16 - 30. Participants learned about key art periods before going on to explore them in more depth through a weekly art challenge.

DASH sought artists who identified as disabled - including neurodiverse artists. The course has been designed to suit a range of abilities, whether self-taught, an early stage artist, or a more experienced artist yet to study the history of art.

The course was well received by participants with lots of interesting conversation and exploration of themes.

This cost-free course, was made possible by funding from DASH, Shropshire Council, Garfield Weston Foundation and Arts Council England. It also received funding from Tesco Bags of Help.

Artist Mentoring 2020 - 2021

Artist Support

During the pandemic DASH continued to provide Artist Mentoring Support covering everything from artist practice, networking, access issues and more. Supporting Disabled artists with their development as well as to counter the isolation that the virus brought to us all.

Mentoring has been offered via phone/skype/zoom on a first come first served basis to any Disabled visual artist across the UK at any stage of their career.

The mentoring has been open ended with is no limit to the number of sessions available and have been led by Artistic Director, Mike Layward.
Contact mike@dasharts.org for more information.

Here's what some of our artists had to say:

“DASH's approach to personalised mentoring has created a tailormade service allowing me to express myself creatively and professionally”

"The support from DASH over the years has been invaluable. It's helped me develop as an artist and given me the confidence to apply for opportunities, these have included, residences, grant applications, exhibitions, Scholarships and jobs"

"DASH have boosted my confidence and I now claim the title of 'artist'. I am sure everyone's path is different. For myself it has given me the space to work out:

Where I am & where I would like to be in the future
What I need to prioritise
How to re-organise my working practice to be more efficient
Who my market is and how do I reach them?

Having a clear path has made my design and creating process easier. For the first time in ages, I am not second guessing myself, I am just creating."

Slaughtering the Sacred Cows Public Conference March 2020

Anna Berry

Milton Keynes based artist Anna Berry joined MAC, Birmingham in April 2019 as our first DASH curator in residence.

On Wed 11th March at MAC Birmingham, audiences were invited to attend Anna and guest speakers at her free public conference - Disability Arts: Slaughtering the Sacred Cows.

Read Anna's keynote speech from her public conference entitled Disability Arts: Slaughtering the sacred Cows.

This was the culminiation of Anna's year long curatorial commission at MAC and was an opportunity to question Disability Arts. Are we robust enough to criticise ourselves? Are there no-go topics which aren't debated in Disability Arts? This dynamic event examines current issues related to the challenges and opportunities of Disability Arts, bringing together leading practitioners included keynote speaker, artist Aaron Williamson.

The exhibition closed on Sun 22 March 2020.

Curatorial Commission: Aidan Moesby January 2020: Aidan Moesby, a Newcastle based artist and curator, joined Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA) as our second curatorial resident in DASH's innovative partnership programme to support the career development of Deaf and Disabled Curators.

Aidan Moesby, an artist and curator whose practice considers art, health and technology, investigates the dual crises of climate change and mental health and explores the relationships between the outer physical weather and internal psycho-emotional weather. Moesby is concerned with language: literally in text-based pieces, through the use of metaphor and the emotional and psychological language of spaces and location.

He regularly participates in panel discussions, presents at conferences, lectures, mentors, trains and facilitates groups and discussions.

He has worked, exhibited and curated nationally and internationally, working with galleries and organisations such as Dundee Contemporary Arts, Newcastle University, Laboratorio Arte Alameda (CDMX), WIP: Stockholm, The Tetley, New Media Scotland, NHS24, ANAT(Aus), Watershed, Jadraas Art (SE:SU) and The Sick of the Fringe. Despite this, developing a sustained career or gaining employment as a curator in an institution has remained an elusive goal.

Curatorial Commissions: Art and Social Change Exhibition January - March 2020: Anna Berry's curated exhibition, Art and Social Change: The Disability Arts Movement ran from Sat 11 January to Sun 22 March 2020 at MAC Birmingham.

As part of DASH's Curatorial Commissions Programme, Anna Berry undertook a year-long placement at MAC. She has worked closeley closely with their Visual Arts team to learn how they approach the curation of their shows. This exhibition, developed and curated by Anna, was the culmination of her placement, showcasing her new skills while linking to the wider programme at MAC.

This exhibition presented some of the art work, along with objects used by Disability Rights activists, that raised awareness and effected political change for disabled people. The Disability Arts Movement were a civil rights group of artists and activists who fought the marginalisation of disabled people. Their work supported the struggle of Disability Rights activists, which led to the passing of the Disability Discrimination Act in 1995.

The long term aim of the Curatorial Commissions programme is to support the development of Deaf and Disabled curators, so they can become the Directors/ Curators/ Programmers of the future, addressing the cultural changes that must be made within the visual arts sector in order for it to become a more inclusive and accessible art form.

Access: A BSL Tour took place on 1 February and the exhibition was on the ground floor of MAC which has wheelchair access.

2019

Free Medicine Exhibitions in Shrewsbury July 2018- 2019

Free Medicine participants creating icons

Our young persons' art project, 'Free Medicine', which began back in July 2018, has enabled Disabled young people in Shropshire to participate in accessible and inclusive arts workshops.

The participants have developed their creative skills through ongoing mentoring and support. Participants have also reported growth in soft skills such as confidence, communication and improvement in mental well-being.

Our young artists have a had a busy summer 2019 working in the studio at Participate Contemporary Artspace in Shrewsbury.

A group of 9 have explored their artistic specialisms, identified over the last year they have been working with the project and each has received mentoring in their own area of creative practice.

Specialisms including drawing, textiles and embroidery have been developed in the studio and the results of this time spent exploring was evident at their Free Medicine September Exhibition in Shrewsbury at the Visual Arts Network.

Curatorial Commission: Anna Berry April 2019: Milton Keynes based artist Anna Berry joined MAC, Birmingham in April 2019 as our first DASH curator in residence.

On Wed 11 March at MAC Birmingham, audiences were invited to attend Anna and guest speakers at her free public conference - Disability Arts: Slaughtering the Sacred Cows.

Read Anna's keynote speech from her public conference entitled Disability Arts: Slaughtering the sacred Cows.

This was the culmination of Anna's year long curatorial commission at MAC and was an opportunity to question Disability Arts. Are we robust enough to criticise ourselves? Are there no-go topics which aren't debated in Disability Arts?

This dynamic event examined current issues related to the challenges and opportunities of Disability Arts, bringing together leading practitioners included keynote speaker, artist Aaron Williamson.

The exhibition closed on Sun 22nd March 2020.

Cultivating Flight in Blue Skies March - November 2019

Film still from Discursive Ability Trailer by Jazz Moreton

Cultivating Flight in Blue Skies was a project designed to support a D/deaf or disabled artist based in Coventry or Warwickshire.

Jazz Moreton took up the residency and commission, as well as constructive critical input, in partnership with DASH, Talking Birds and Coventry Biennal.

Jazz, an artist and activist based in rural Warwickshire, predominantly works with performance, sound and moving image and has previously made work with Artsadmin.

For Cultivating Flight in Blue Skies she explored the disabled voice, a term she uses in relation to her neurogenic stammer but which could also refer to a wide range of impairments affecting speech, making artworks which attempt to open up dialogues around communication and perception which will be presented at Coventry Biennial 2019.

Jazz explains:

"people fear the unfamiliar, and they fear upsetting disabled people by even broaching the subject of how some of us sound, as if we're not aware of it"

The result of her residency is an audio-based work titled “Discursive Ability” exhibited at the Coventry Biennial. You can view a video trailer for “Discursive Ability” in this video by producer Jon Randle.

Please read more about Jazz's background and experiences in her recent interview with Mike Layward on our Blog page.

Annual Report 2018 - 2019 March 29th, 2019: Find out about all the work DASH did in 2018 - 2019

https://issuu.com/dasharts/docs/dash_annual_report_1819__final_

2018

Creative Seminar Series 15 October 2018: Monday 15 October

2.00 – 4.00, The Hive, Shrewsbury

Equality and Diversity Seminar led by DASH

How to Change the World in Half a Day!

Equality and Diversity are the basic building blocks for a just and fair Society.

How do we make this happen?

We can't change the World in half a day but we can bring you our ideas and experiences built upon our lived knowledge of Disability arts.

The seminar will include:

• What is Equality and Diversity: The history of struggles for equal rights and justice

• What is Disability arts. Looking at the book 'The Incorrigibles' and the National Disability Arts Archive

• Disabled artists and Learning Disabled artists. Q and A with Tanya Raabe Webber her work as a Disabled artist, activist and Art Studio 01 Shrewsbury Learning Disabled art studio

• Cultivate Film. Cultivate was a 3 year mentoring programme for Disabled visual artists based in the West Midlands

• How to be inclusive Discussion on what you need to do to make your programmes inclusive

Afternoon tea provided.

Cultivate May 8th, 2018: Watch: DASH Cultivate Mentoring Programme

Sixty disabled artists across the West Midlands were able to access a total of 360 hours of specialised bespoke continued professional development mentoring time over this three-year programme (twenty mentees per year, with an average of 6 hours each), from a skilled group of mentors.

We worked with West Midlands Higher Education art and design departments to identify and recruit students who were eligible for the programme.

In addition, we recruited mentees through our network of galleries across the region, the New Art West Midlands visual arts network, other disability networks, adverts, social media and our database to ensure Cultivate reached right across the region.

Artists were also welcome to self-refer to the scheme.

The Cultivate programme ran from April 2015 to March 2018.

PROCESSIONS February 28th, 2018: Watch: PROCESSIONS 2018 - DASH and the Shropshire Subversive Stitchers

DASH was one of 100 organisations working with women artists up and down the country in the lead-up to PROCESSIONS, as part of an extensive public programme of creative workshops to create 100 centenary banners which will form part of this vast artwork.

The banner-making workshops focussed on text and textiles, echoing the practices of the women's suffrage campaign and considered the power of the vote today and our shared future. The banner represents and celebrates the diverse voices of women and girls from different backgrounds.

The lead artist for DASH was Anne Marie Lagram, a Shropshire based artist who recently completed an Arts Council funded project called Medgel – Portrait of a Witch https://amlartist.com/

DASH worked with The Hive, SAND, Participate Artspace and Quatt Village Hall to create a series of inclusive workshops for all women* from March - June 2018.

* women and those who identify as non binary.

DASH PROCESSIONS workshops were supported by Artichoke, Western Power Distribution and Shropshire Council.

Part of PROCESSIONS, a UK-wide mass participation artwork to mark 100 years of women's suffrage, produced by Artichoke and commissioned by 14-18 NOW, based on an idea by Darrell Vydelingum

Helen Marriage, CEO Artichoke said:

"The 100^th anniversary of the passing of legislation which made universal suffrage unstoppable is a moment both for celebration and reflection. Individuals and groups up and down the country, including DASH, will be at the heart of this UK-wide artwork. What they make and bring to their chosen procession on Sunday 10^th of June will form part of a unique living portrait of women today."

PROCESSIONS was commissioned by 14-18 NOW and produced by Artichoke. With support from the National Lottery through Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund, and from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

PROCESSIONS Cardiff was produced by Artichoke in partnership with Festival of Voice and Wales Millennium Centre. The DASH banner is joinung the other 99 banners on a two year tour of uk. Will post exhibition times and venues as they become available.

2017

ACE funding announcement Tuesday 27th June 2017: DASH is delighted to announce Arts Council England funding for 2018 – 2022.

DASH's application for additional investment was supported, which means that we can expand our partnership work commissioning Disabled artists and create a new Disabled children and young people programme.

How can we do this with just three part time staff? The increased investment means that we will be able to expand our team with an Engagement and Learning Manager and a Marketing & Communications Manager.

The Board and staff would like to say a HUGE thank you to Arts Council England, the organisation and the staff team for all your support over the years.

And of course a HUGE thank you to all our supporters, from so many arts, cultural and media and third sector organisations, all the individuals, artists, freelancers, participants and funders, who have made it possible to continue our work.

We have BIG plans over the next four years, so make sure you watch this space for the latest projects and news. Did I mention DASH will be 20 years old in 2021? – Time for a celebration?

Peter Knott, Area Director, Arts Council England said: "Creative talent is everywhere, but opportunities are not, which is why we're thrilled to be increasing our investment in DASH over the next four years. It'll be great to see them continue to support disabled visual artists, as well as using our funding to create a new programme for disabled children and young people to get involved with art and culture."

Inside Commission at New Art Exchange 17 JUNE - 6 AUGUST 2017: Inside commission at New Art Exchange

The second of the two Inside commissions, Altered Landscapes is an immersive multimedia installation which traces a personal narrative through the scarred vistas of Europe in the midst of the largest mass migration in living memory.

For this exhibition delGado travelled to Greece, Macedonia and Calais to record the journeys taken by refugees. delGado has not filmed these 'invisible' people but the places they have passed through and the traces of their existence they have left. In place of the images proliferated by the media delGado presents fragments of experiences and fleeting moments that tell the human story of people caught in the unfolding sweep of history.

Through the use of video, photography, light and sound, Altered Landscapes takes the viewer on a journey. The viewer navigates the different elements in the gallery space absorbing the experiences of the refugees and witnessing the reshaping of the continent as Europe's horizons fill up with the authoritarian towers of a new militarised border control.

"The INSIDE funding has provided us with a valuable opportunity to work with Juan delGado a London based artist with hearing impairment who explores themes of trauma, disability and dislocation. The fund has enabled us to co-commission his new film, Altered Landscapes, which was launched at NAE in June 2017. In this project delGado continues his enquiry into personal narratives and the restrictions on movement, focusing on the ongoing influx of displaced people crossing from Turkey into Greece and Macedonia.

As well as the financial support working with DASH has also provided us with a great opportunity to enhance our knowledge and skills in terms of working with disabled artists and audiences. Helping us to further grow our access programme aimed at engaging diverse audiences with different abilities. Therefore, bringing us closer to our ambition to share our passion for the visual arts and our exhibitions and events with as many as people as possible."

Armindokht Shooshtari - Producer – Touring & Creative Programmes.

Altered Landscapes is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and by the Spanish Embassy Office for Cultural and Scientific Affairs in London.

Inside Commission at QUAD 23 MARCH - 24 APRIL 2017

Be Here, Now

Artists Daniel Regan and Antonia Attwood explore the soothing qualities of natural spaces in this immersive exhibition that fuses virtual reality, video, photography and sound. The artists — both working in the field of mental health and well-being — have responded to the theme of HABITAT by examining how different landscapes can offer safety and respite in today's fast moving world.

During summer of 2016, the artists began their research into what constitutes a safe space by asking for anonymous contributions from strangers. Overwhelmingly, the responses focused on the power of nature: the sounds of the sea and water; being in forests and open fields; the therapeutic act of walking or curling up by a warm fire.

Regan and Attwood's inquiry into how we feel safe or soothed took them on various journeys — recording sights, sounds and light across England. The resulting exhibition is the culmination of these journeys, physically constructed into individual rooms. Viewers are invited to immerse themselves and switch off from the frenetic pace of modern life.

As part of their commission, Regan and Attwood delivered a series of workshops during the exhibition, around the theme of safe and soothing spaces. These workshops were designed for people that may be experiencing their own set of difficulties, including adults with mental health difficulties, the elderly and adolescent children on the autistic spectrum.

This project was made in conjunction with QUAD, FORMAT, Inside arts, D-LAB, Level Centre, Junction Arts and Arts Council England.

Images credit: Daniel Regan & Antonia Attwood, images from the exhibition 'Be Here, Now', 2016

Awkward Bastards: Absence 22nd - 23rd March 2017

Awkward Bastards: Absence

Awkward Bastards: ABsence took place on 22nd - 23rd March at mac birmingham.

Recordings of the talks and performances are available to view on YouTube

You can also find a round-up of reactions to the event on social media here.

Workshops, keynote speeches, panel debates, open mic - with internationally renowned artists and academics, focussing on underrepresentation, exclusion and invisibility.

Co produced by DASH, mac birmingham and LADA.

- - - - -

DASH's Awkward Bastards symposium in March 2015 was one of the first to engage with the spectrum of diversity from disability, ethnicity, sexuality, to gender and class. The Awkward Bastards returned with ABsence in 2017 to consider the ways in which diverse artists and practices have been, are, or could be framed, and our collective responsibilities to our pasts and our futures.

Contributors to the 2017 symposium:

Frances Morris (Tate Modern), Tony Heaton (Shape), Mohammed Ali (artist), Rachel Anderson (Idle Women), Julie McNamara (Vital Xposure), Daniel Oliver (artist), Jamila Johnson Small (artist/organiser), Simon Casson (Duckie), Katharine Araniello & Aaron Williamson (Disabled Avant Garde), Sue Austin (artist), Melanie Keen (Iniva), Nick Llewellyn & Cian Binchy (Access All Areas), David A Bailey (International Curators Forum), Aaron Wright (Fierce Festival), sean burn (artist), Tanya Raabe-Webber (artist), Helga Henry (Birmingham Hippodrome), Sarah Watson & Rory Baird (Creative Minds), Rachel Gadsden (artist), Charlotte Gregory (Vamos), Lara Ratnaraja (consultant) and Caroline Parker (actor)

ABsence is a collaboration with the Live Art Development Agency, London and mac birmingham.

2016

The first INSIDE commissions Wednesday 29th June 2016

Artists Daniel Regan & Antonia Atwood have been announced as the recipients of an INSIDE commission to make new work relating to themes of mental wellbeing and safe spaces.

This new commission, focused on supporting disabled artists, is a collaboration between QUAD and D-Lab in partnership with LEVEL and Junction Arts, supported by funding from DASH.

Regan & Attwood will be in residence at QUAD in the latter part of 2016, producing new work that will also touch upon the broad theme of 'Habitat', and will take the form of still and moving image works, with digitally driven additional works. The work will initially be included within the QUAD programme during FORMAT17, also on the D-Lab website and at the LEVEL Centre, during 2017.

About INSIDE:

INSIDE is a Disability Arts commissioning programme led by DASH with funding from Arts Council England. DASH has been an instigator and initiator of the commissioning of new work by Disabled visual artists within mainstream galleries since 2008, enabling Disabled artists to create new work and collaborate with new institutions.In collaboration, we seek to commission work by leading national and international disabled artists, examining the way in which diversity is an intrinsic part of the creative process and enabling these artists and venues to transcend barriers.

An 'in' with a stranger 16th January 2016

Aidan Moesby at Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre

Curator Aidan Moesby begins a conversation exploring the notion of weather as a metaphor for the human condition - at Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre.

Aidan brought together an International selection of artists whose work resonates with his vision. Featuring Catrin Andersson; Joanne Mitchell; Zoe Preece and Tim Shaw.

This exhibition is a Tu Fewn project and presented as part of LGAC's "Maker to Curator" series.

The exhibition launched on 16th January 2016 and runs until 12th March 2016.

D2ART January 1st 2016: The Digital Humanities Hub at the University of Birmingham in partnership with DASH (a disability led arts organisation based in Shropshire) have been successful in receiving AHRC funding through their Digital Transformations Programme, for their new project D2ART: Transforming Disability Arts Through Digital Technologies.

The project aims were to understand better the current issues that disabled artists face during their creative process and the potential impact that digital tools might have on that process.

The project is comprised of a multi-disciplinary team and advisory panel including DASH (Disability Arts Shropshire), Birmingham City University, SCOPE, the University of Illinois in Chicago, and the University of Birmingham's Human-Computer Interaction Centre.

Paula Dower from DASH said "DASH are excited by the opportunity to be a partner with the Digital Humanities Hub. The work has the potential to increase the profile of the work of disabled artists."

Digital Humanities Hub

The Digital Humanities Hub at the University of Birmingham focuses on collaborative triple helix working across the Arts and Humanities with cultural and heritage organisations, digital and creative industries and academics to develop collaborative and innovative digital prototypes. A core part of the team's work is exploring and researching the impacts of innovative and novel technology (such as touch tables, Oculus Rift), providing both digital SMEs and cultural organisations with access to equipment and opportunities for R&D.

Here's an interesting report with early findings and emerging themes:

http://www.d2art.org/disabled-artist-online-survey-early-findings-emerging-themes/

Stop the Shropshire Arts Cuts January 2016: Art is important because it belongs to all of us as an expression of our humanity and our drive to find and make meaning. It provides us –people of all ages and backgrounds - with a universal way to express and share our feelings, concerns and beliefs.

Art can foster and strengthen humanity, inspiration, emotional maturity and inclusiveness. Engaging in the arts is vital to our health and wellbeing.

DASH helped in the campaign to stop the Shropshire Arts Cuts... A petition was started and eventually handed in to Shropshire Council, by Mike Layward of DASH!

2015

Turning it on it's head December 2015

Turning it on it's head - by Zoe Partington

This was Zoe's second commission with DASH and partner galleries to create groundbreaking new work.

'Turning it On its Head' is a series of images and oral descriptions, which were commissioned as part of the Diffusion festival theme 'Looking for America' - to provide an insight into Zoe's work around Disability Arts.

It formed part of the Tu Fewn project and was the commission working with ffotogallery. Zoe has been developing this work for over 25 years, observing and experimenting with accessibility to visual imagery for blind and partially sighted people in different ways.

Diffusion is a biennial month-long international festival of photography which takes place in Cardiff, Wales. In 2015 Ffotogallery selected the theme of 'Looking for America', an investigation of the status and meaning of the American Dream in relation to contemporary experience in Wales, America and the rest of the world.

The festival flourished with stunning and thought provoking images and I sharing through the link some of my favourite photos and collected images of the work of Stacy Kranitz and the images of Ken Griffiths of Patagonia and the work of Jona Frank and High School/Right,amongst hundreds of images from the DIFFUSION Festival 2015 to access these go to the website address below.

Click here to read a detailed account from Zoe herself, about the project.

Launch of Cultivate Monday 14th September 2015

Cultivate mentoring project for artists

DASH identified the need for a robust formal mentoring programme for emerging disabled visual artists across the West Midlands, to enable them access to opportunities and practical specialist support to develop their practice and to cultivate a visual arts ecology that is diverse and representative of the diversity of our society.

Cultivate will begin to address this need through a three year mentoring programme for emerging Disabled visual artists based in the West Midlands.

Sixty disabled artists across the West Midlands will be able to access a total of 360 hours of specialised bespoke continued professional development mentoring time over a three-year programme (twenty mentees per year, with an average of 6 hours each), from a skilled group of mentors.

We will be working closely with West Midlands Higher Education art and design departments to identify and recruit students who are eligible for the programme.

In addition, we will recruit mentees through our network of galleries across the region, the Turning Point visual arts network, other disability networks, adverts, social media and our database to ensure Cultivate will reach right across the region.

Cultivate opened for applications on 14th September 2015. Visit the project page for more information.

Cultivate is funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.

Art Express exhibition 1st June 2015

Art Express project in rural Shropshire

The Art Express workshops were a great success - bringing creative workshops to various rural venues across Shropshire. The culmination of the Art Express project was an exhibition of work at the Visual Art Network Gallery in Shrewsbury's Market Hall.

This exhibition celebrated the project by allowing participants of the workshops to exhibit some of the work that they created - and it was on show between 1st June and 28th June.

The Art Express programme delivered workshops in portrait painting, book art, clothed figures and much more. Further funding is currently being explored to enable another series of workshops in the future.

In Conversation With The Past premiere 16th May 2015

Bill Lock stands next to his caravan

In April 2014 disabled artist-filmmaker Nicola Lane was commissioned by Disability Arts in Shropshire and Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery to create a film reflecting on the life of deaf Romany Bill Lock, who lived and worked in and around the villages of Clun and Bishop's Castle in South Shropshire.

More than 140 people came along to Clun Memorial Hall for the premiere of Nicola's film In Conversation With The Past - which was also screened at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery in July.

Bill Lock was born deaf in 1910 into a well-known Romany family who travelled throughout the Borders and Shropshire. The Lock family settled in Clun in the 1950s and Bill became an important part of the community.

To discover Bill's world, disabled artist Nicola Lane interviewed some of the many people who remember him - including 92 year old Clunton farmer Harry Collins who employed Bill and knew him well. Memories of Bill are still strong; but as Mr Collins says, it will be 'all gone' after his generation have passed.

Nicola's film aims to celebrate Bill's long life and the vanished world in which he lived and worked. Film maker, Nicola Lane, was awarded the commission to create the film, as part of a joint commission in partnership with DASH and Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery, as part of the IN (Disability Arts IN the Mainstream) project, funded by Arts Council England.

Almost a Score at Arnolfini 20th March 2015

Christine Sun Kim, photo by Max McClure

International artist Christine Sun Kim was the last, but certainly not least, of the five IN commissions - with a residency at Arnolfini in Bristol. Christine's exhibition was shown between 20th March and 5th May 2015.

Christine Sun Kim is a visual artist who works with concepts around sound and visual language. Deaf from birth, Kim deals with sound as a medium that can be physically expressive, communicative, and experienced viscerally.

Working across conventions of American Sign Language (ASL), Kim investigated the identity of her own voice and her associations of sound as a deaf person. She asked audiences to consider the role that sound and listening have in building an experience of both inner and outer worlds and the way that touch can inform listening and language.

A new collection of her drawings, created for the exhibition at Arnolfini, was on show in Gallery 5. During her residency in Bristol, Kim created a new film installation work in Arnolfini's intimate Dark Studio exploring the themes of language, sound and silence. This was the first time that the artist had created a film work of this size and in a residency setting.

The residency and exhibition was complimented by a performance lecture with the artist and a specialist panel discussion, focused on the relationships between language, sound and listening, followed by an evening showcase of performative works that were inspired by the themes discussed.

Disrupted at mac birmingham Saturday 14th March 2015

Swing, by artist Anna Smith, 2014.

Disrupted is a group exhibition that has been conceived for mac birmingham to directly respond to, and interact with, the arts centre venue, the building and its audiences. The artworks and installations exhibited here invite visitors to encounter the 'Other' - that which is different and unfamiliar, often remaining unseen in our day to day lives - and to engage with it in a familiar space.

Curated by Noëmi Lakmaier during her year-long residency at mac, the exhibition, co-commissioned by mac and DASH explores the sense of awkwardness such encounters can bring, and the unique experiences and unexpected insights that can emerge from them.

Disrupted brings together both established and emerging artists working in the realm of Disability Arts and in the mainstream. Artists included within the exhibition are Anna Berndtson, Noëmi Lakmaier, the vacuum cleaner, Anna Smith, Martin O'Brien, Zoe Partington-Sollinger & Andrej Bako.

The Disrupted exhibition, was on show until Sunday 3rd May 2015.

Firing the can(n)on of disability arts March 2015: A compelling short film - mixing animation, live-art, spoken word and an original soundworld to challenge the absence of disability art.

View the film which sean burn produced for this project, on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/122101274

sean burn was commissioned by DASH to make a short, compelling new experimental film - mixing animation, live-art, spoken word and a wholly original soundworld to challenge an absence; this disappearance of us from the can(n)on of art. The film intended on being witty, provocative and poetic and an utterly unique take from outsider artist sean burn. It was to utilise in part, sean's own responses to the all-consuming world of merz that Schwitters conjured up.

sean burn is a writer, performer and outsider artist with a growing international reputation. He is actively involved nationally in disability arts.

He was shortlisted for a Dadafest disability arts award in 2009 and in 2011 successfully completed a major artist in residence project at the New Gallery Walsall in association with DASH, 'reclaiming the languages of lunacy'.

His thirty short experimental films have received many screenings worldwide, as well as at Tate Modern and the National Film Theatre Studios in London.

The film was project managed by DASH and shown at the Awkward Bastards symposium in March 2015.

The symposium was the final part of the DASH project 'in' - Disability Arts in the Mainstream. A project which commissioned Disabled Artists/Curators to produce new work in partnership with mainstream galleries.

The Awkward Bastards Symposium Thursday 12th March 2015: Watch: Dr David Turner's keynote speech

Challenging and exploring the concept of diversity, breaking down the barriers between different cultures of thinking...

The Awkward Bastards symposium at mac birmingham in March 2015, was the culmination of the three year project, IN - Disability Arts 'In' the Mainstream.

March 12th 2015 at mac birmingham.

Presented by a mix of academics, artists and activists representing diversity (disability, ethnicity, sexuality, gender and class) from across the UK and USA.

Here are the links to the Youtube videos:

Dr. David Turner's keynote speech 'Disability's Awkward Histories'.

Marlene Smith - Rethinking Diversity

Tony Heaton OBE - History of the Disability Arts Movement

Gemma Marmalade - Talks about her practice

Vacuum Cleaner - Definitions

sean burn - language of lunacy

Gill Nicol - Making contemporary arts accessible

Matt Smith - Queering the museum

Amanda Cachia - Disabling the museum

Vincent Gould - Diversity decision commission

Mike Layward and Amanda Cachia - What come's next?

Lois Keidan and Abid Hussain - What come's next?

Lara Ratnaraja and Garry Robson - What come's next?

#dash_AB2015

Awkward Bastards was co produced by DASH and mac birmingham.

Here are some links to what other people said about the day:

www.museumsassociation.org

www.disabilityartsonline.org.uk

www.viciwreford-sinnott.com

www.theguardian.com

Tu Fewn artists announced 15th February 2015

Tu Fewn - development opportunity for arts organisations in Wales

The three commissions are selected by the commissioning galleries and these are:

Zoe Partington - ffotogallery

This is Zoe's second commission with DASH and partner galleries to create groundbreaking new work. In 2013 she co produced 'Sound Canvas' which won a Jodi Award for Innovation and has toured Shropshire and the borders after leaving The Public.

Zoe's commission (working title) 'Turning it on its head' will connect digitally with disabled photographers in America.

Aidan Moesby – Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre

http://aidanmoesby.co.uk http://textartimage.wordpress.com

Moesby explores the weather and art through the intersection of his socially engaged art practice. The weather is a rich source of metaphor, it is a driver of philosophical thought and even bound into some revolutionary politics. January 2016.

Gail Howard – g39

Gail Howard is a co-director of Made in Roath, an arts organisation conceived in June 2009 by a small group of Roath based artists who share a love of their community.

Her commission at g 39 will be a curatorial residency, to be realised in July 2016.

2014

Tu Fewn commissions announced Wednesday 22nd October 2014

One of the three Tu Fewn commissions - for g39

We are very pleased to release the three commissions from our Tu Fewn partners; Ffotogallery, g39 and Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre.

The commissions on offer, in brief:

Ffotogallery - want to commission a Disabled artist to create a public-realm/digital cross platform artwork as part of the Diffusion Experience for Diffusion: Cardiff International Festival of Photography in October 2015. The commission is open to UK and international Disabled artists.
g39 - seeking an ambitious disabled artist-curator to contribute to their process of programming. The successful artist-curator will be commissioned to work with the g39 team for a twelve-month period and will be responsible for devising one of g39's 3-month seasons, comprising a main exhibition with associated projects / exhibition spaces, seminars and talks.
Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre - looking to commission a disabled artist/maker to curate an exhibition as part of our â€œMaker to Curatorâ€ programme. The resulting exhibition will be presented at LGAC in January 2016. The commission is open to all UK and International disabled makers/artists.

The Big Draw - From Micro to Macro 5th October 2014

A day of creativity, celebrating the Shropshire landscape with award winning artist Tanya Raabe.

Carding Mill Valley is situated in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is also one of the oldest and most important geological sites in the country...

At The Big Draw, Micro to Macro event, participants explored the environment using magnifying glasses and frames to discover the tiniest unseen specimens, then using pencils, charcoals, pens and ink to turn these glimpses of our tiny environment into works of art.

This event was led by DASH Associate Artist Tanya Raabe - and was the launch of our exciting new Art Express project - bringing creative workshops to rural locations across Shropshire.

DASH is funded by Arts Council England and Shropshire Council. The Art Express project is funded by The Big Lottery and Tesco Charity Trust.

DASH secures three year funding Friday 4th July 2014

Arts Council England funding

Staff and trustees of DASH were celebrating this week – after receiving the news that they had been successful in securing funding from Arts Council England.

DASH is a Disability Arts development organisation, which works locally, nationally and internationally with disabled people in partnership with arts and cultural organisations to develop Disability Arts practice. The charity is based at the Hive in Shrewsbury town centre but works across the country, delivering a wide variety of projects and initiatives with a focus on visual arts.

Speaking of the funding, Paula Dower, Operations Manager said “This is of course great news for DASH. The successful Arts Council England application gives us another three years, bringing high quality Disability Artists commissions to mainstream galleries.” She added “It also provides us with a solid foundation for many other projects which we are looking forward to commencing.”

Key DASH projects being delivered at the time of the funding agreement, include the IN project, Disability Arts 'IN' the Mainstream. DASH is working with five UK galleries, commissioning five disabled artists – and the three year project will culminate in a Symposium at mac birmingham in 2015.

Arnolfini commission for IN project 1st July 2014

Three Not Six - artwork by Chris Sun Kim

International artist Chris Sun Kim has been commissioned by Arnolfini in Bristol, in the last of the five commissions for the IN project, Disability Arts 'IN' the Mainstream.

Speaking of the commission, Christine said "I am grateful and pleased to be commissioned by DASH. It will be a great opportunity for me to get to know another art community." She added "It is also a nice reminder that there are organisations out there, working hard to pave roads for artists with disabilities."

Nicola Lane commission with Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery 1st June 2014

Portrait of Bill Lock by unknown artist.

In partnership with DASH, Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery offered an opportunity for a disabled artist-filmmaker to undertake a commission, to be completed by early February 2015.

The commission invited an artist-filmmaker to reflect on the life and life-experiences of a particular disabled deaf person, Bill Lock (1910-2000), who lived and worked in and around the villages of Clun and Bishop's Castle in South Shropshire.

The aim of the commission, being to explore Bill's life and life-experiences as a metaphor for wider issues around disability in society – the personal as political...

DASH announced that Nicola Lane had been awarded the commission. Nicola first became involved with DASH in 2012. Nicola wishes to contribute to supporting disabled artists working in the mainstream, because she believes their point of view is creatively innovative.

Paula Dower of DASH, says "Mike Layward and I were extremely pleased to reveal Nicola as the successfully commissioned artist for the project with Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery."

Tu Fewn commissions announced 8th May 2014

Tu Fewn logo

There was a high quality of applications and after a very thorough process of shortlisting and interviewing, the three Tu Fewn commissioners were selected on April 15th 2014.

The selected commissioners are:

Ffotogallery to commission a Disabled artist to be part of the 2015 diffusion festival in 2015, specifically the Diffussion Experience - a non gallery element of the Festival. There is great potential for an International artist to be commissioned.
g39 to commission a guest curator for a 12 month period in 2015-2016.
Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre to commission a mid career artist/maker to curate an exhibition at the arts centre during the next two years.

Curator in Residence at mac birmingham 1st May 2014

mac birmingham commission with DASH

Noëmi Lakmaier has been announced as the new artist in residence at mac birmingham. She promises 'awkward' interventions with disabled artists and is looking forward to starting.

Noëmi has been awarded the residency at mac as part of a joint commission in partnership with DASH for the IN (Disability Arts in the Mainstream) project.

An experienced artist, performer and curator, Noëmi will be in residence for a year and aims to work collaboratively with Disabled artists to produce a body of 'awkward' work that has the potential to change or 'disable' the space it inhabits, alongside a programme of talks with audiences and artists.

IN is a visual arts programme supported by Arts Council England to increase the number of Disabled and Deaf artists commissioned by mainstream galleries and to raise the profile of Disability Arts to audiences locally, regionally and nationally. Working closely with DASH, mac birmingham is one of four gallery partners, which includes; The Herbert Museum and Art Gallery, Coventry, Arnolfini, Bristol and Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery.

Noëmi Lakmaier said "I am thrilled to have been appointed as Disability Curator in Residence at MAC. This is a rare and important opportunity to bring together some of the most exciting Disabled artists working today at a major mainstream venue, and to create a show with real impact. I am very much looking forward to the year ahead."

Mike Layward of DASH commented "DASH is very excited that Noëmi has been commissioned as curator in residence at the mac. Firstly the potential of a Disabled artist of Noemi's calibre working with audiences and artists at the mac - and secondly in how this opportunity will develop Noëmi as an artist and curator."

Sound Canvas at the Hive Monday 17th February 2014

Jodi Award winning Sound Canvas by Zoe Partington arrived at the Hive in Shrewsbury town centre, following the popularity of its display at The Public in West Bromwich.

Sound Canvas is one of five commissions as part of DASH's project IN 'Disability art in the mainstream'. The exhibition in the Hive's Gallery Space also featured a small selection of digital Shropshire landscapes and poetry by local artists.

The installation has proved extremely popular with younger audiences at the Hive - including Young Carers and other groups.

The images show press coverage from both the Shropshire Star and Shrewsbury Chronicle, surrounding the exhibition launch.

Walls with Wounds at The Herbert February 14th 2014

The Private View for Dale vN Marshall's exhibition took place at The Herbert Museum and Art Gallery on Thursday 13th February - and the night was a great success!

"The visitor book had the word inspiring on every page!" commented one visitor. "It was worth it and more!" - all four of the workshops were sold out; plus it was very successful mentoring four disabled artists at The Herbert.

A three page feature was published in the Coventry Telegraph, promoting the launch of Dale vN Marshall's exhibition at The Herbert Museum and Art Gallery, as part of the IN project.

The exhibition also appeared in the Birmingham Post, both online and in print. This article can be viewed by visiting the Birmingham Post website direct: http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/walls-wounds-runs-herbert-gallery-6700211

Disability Art and Equality Training workshop Friday 7th February 2014

We delivered our second Disability Art and Equality Training workshop on Friday 7th February 2014, at The Silvester Horne Institute in Church Stretton.

Feedback from the day included the following comments:

"I just want to say how much I enjoyed the workshop in Church Stretton. I learnt some stuff and made some new friends."
"Thank you for organising the training day in Church Stretton. I enjoyed the day very much - good to meet old and new faces and found it challenging in places!"

Our first crowd-funding experience is a success! 1st January 2014

anarkissed by artist Sean Burn

In December 2013 we decided to explore the world of crowd-funding - and we were rather happy that our first experience was a success, receiving over 100% of our goal.

A compelling short film, 'Firing the can(n)on of Disability Arts' will mix animation, live-art, spoken word and an original soundworld to challenge the absence of disability art in mainstream art timelines.

The film will be shown at our symposium 'Awkward Bastards' at mac birmingham in 2015 and will be undertaken by artist sean burn.

We may start another Kickstarter project to fund a book about the IN project so if you didn't get chance to pledge your money for the film, you can for the book in the future!

2013

More Photoshop workshops in Shrewsbury 12th and 19th December 2013: Our Photoshop workshops proved very popular in November and DASH therefore hosted a further two-day workshop in December, with a BSL Interpreter.

The workshops took place on the 12th and 19th of December, at the Hive in Shrewsbury.

The two day course once again provided students with a basic introduction to using Adobe Photoshop and were led by tutor Phill Evans.

Sound Canvas wins a Jodi-Award 11th November 2013: Watch: Sound Canvas wins a Jodi-Award

Sound Canvas, the DASH commission at The Public in West Bromwich, was shortlisted for a prestigious 'Jodi' Award - and we were extremely pleased when it was voted as winner of the Innovation Award, following on from the ceremony in Liverpool!

The multi-sensory exhibition created by artist Zoe Partington, uses sensors and digital technology to enable visitors to access art in an innovative way.

The Jodi awards exist to highlight excellence in widening participation for disabled people in museums, galleries, exhibitions, libraries, archives and heritage sites.

You can preview Sound Canvas when it was in-situ at The Public in West Bromwich, by viewing the video on the right-hand side of this post.

Photoshop workshops at the Hive 7th, 14th and 21st November 2013

Christmas Card by Phill Evans

This three session course provided students with a basic introduction to using Adobe Photoshop - developing an understanding of how digital work could help to enhance their own arts practice.

Tutor Phill was available throughout the sessions to help participants learn the skills needed for their own creative work - and the workshops were extremely well received by those who came along.

Attendees were encouraged to experiment and explore Adobe Photoshop and the multitude of tools available. By the end of the course, everyone was given the aim to have at least one finished piece of artwork which could be taken to a printers.

Phill Evans is a Shrewsbury based freelance illustrator. He has over ten years experience using Adobe Photoshop to make images and artworks for books, posters, logos and many other types of projects large and small.

Outside In Opportunity in AN magazine 1st September 2009

Outside In Opportunity advertised in an September 2009

DASH's commissioning opportunity Outside In is launched and advertised in an Magazine, September 2009.

Animation workshop at the Hive 18th and 19th July 2013: Watch: Kong - a stop-frame animation

Artist Neil Webber led a two-day animation workshop at the Hive in Shrewsbury, on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th July 2013. The session helped participants explore a variety of digital and stop-motion animation techniques - creating a completed piece of work at the end of the two days.

The objective of the workshop was to create a short, creative and experimental piece of stop frame animation. The skills covered included timing and pacing, as well as picture and sound editing.

Neil webber is a graduate of the royal college of art animation course. He has worked in the animation industry for twenty years on a variety of projects including children's TV, advertising and short films.

'Kong' was one of the animations produced - and the other two can be viewed by clicking the links below:

youtu.be/YI2Vj7KzuJE

youtu.be/CS9Z6csu0gs

Sound Canvas is unveiled at The Public 13th July 2013

Disabled artist, Zoe Partington has been commissioned by The Public in West Bromwich and DASH, to create a permanent piece of art for the gallery as part of DASH's project IN 'Disability art in the mainstream'. Sound Canvas was unveiled at a special celebration event on July 13th.

Mike Layward, Artistic Director of DASH said "This is a very exciting time for DASH. Zoe's piece is the first of five commissions, four of which are based in the West Midlands. This project aims to increase the number of Disabled and Deaf artists exhibiting in mainstream galleries. We hope that Zoe's installation will be enjoyed by everyone for a long time."

Portrait Painting workshop with Tanya Raabe 23rd May 2013

This workshop in the Chalet Pavilion at Carding Mill Valley provided a grounding in portraiture - specifically the head and shoulders - with the aim being to enable participants to gain an understanding in the proportions of facial features.

Outcomes from the session were to give participants experience of working with a Disabled Artist; plus an understanding of how to create portraiture and develop facial proportions using a simple but effective line structure.

Participants used digital photography to help create finished portraits and gained an understanding of a disabled artists art practice through witnessing artistic demonstration. They also gained skills and confidence in creating the beginnings of a portrait.

Participants feedback from the day included the following:

"Thank-you so much for a very interesting and enjoyable workshop in Church Stretton. It must have taken a lot of work! I hope that we can as a group, all meet together again in the future."

"It's given me so much confidence to give it a go. I now feel really good about my work."

"Wonderful teaching and company, relaxed and instructive."

Disability Art and Equality Training for Artists Friday 26th April 2013

A great day was had by participants and tutors at this brand new workshop. The first of many. I especially liked this comment "The workshop has given me confidence to pursue my career in working in the arts with disabilities."

The free event aimed to give Shropshire visual artists a grounding in Disability Art and Equality. Aims of the training were to give artists the experience of working with a Disabled Artist; an understanding of what the 2010 Equality Act means; and to also give artists the skills required to enable them to embrace further opportunities and take on more work.

DADA Award winning Disabled Artist Tanya Raabe and Dale Vn Marshall - fine art painter selected by The Herbert Art Gallery and DASH for the IN project - joined forces with Community Development and Equality consultant Jonathan Hyams, to tutor this informative class which was full to capacity. The workshop was held at Shawbury Village Hall in April and was funded by Shropshire Council.

DASH Annual report for 2012/13 31st March 2013: The DASH Annual report for the year 2012/13.

View the report on ISSUU:

http://issuu.com/dasharts/docs/annual_report

Shropshire Star Advertisement 8th January 2011

Shropshire Star 8th January 2011

Advertisement feature in the Shropshire Star giving an overview of DASH, recent projects such as Outside In, and promoting upcoming workshops.

New Gallery partners for 'in' January 1st, 2013: The new partners:

mac Birmingham

Today mac's programme concentrates on the contemporary, showcasing artists across the full range of arts practice: film, theatre, dance, literature, visual arts, music and comedy. mac retains a particularly strong reputation for work with and for children, families and young people, while continuing to welcome people of all ages and cultures to its diverse programme 363 days a year. There is also a strong emphasis on participation, with around 120 arts courses running for people of all ages and abilities each week.

"mac Birmingham are delighted to be part of the second phase of in, sharing the journey with DASH, other partner galleries and the along the way with the wider sector. We are keen to identify new artists or work differently with known artists, whilst equally taking a look inside the organisation to explore how we might develop our practice & approaches so that we more productively engage and support disabled artists and the potential audiences for their work."

Amanda Roberts, Arts Development Director, mac Birmingham

The Herbert

Mission

To enable exploration of the collections we hold in trust, collecting, safeguarding and making them accessible.

To create and present work of quality, daring and accomplishment offering a diverse mix of entertainment, learning and aesthetic enjoyment.

To offer our buildings, collections , knowledge, skills & experience as a resource to our audiences, working in active partnership with business, education, community and arts organisations, and other service providers to maintain and extend the range and reach of our work.

To expand the services offered to existing & potential customers by developing the building as a venue.

The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, is looking forwards to a major project with a disabled street artist. This will connect powerfully with our existing audience for Street Art, who revel in its political and radical content. The project will be a highlight of our creative programming over the year, as well as part of the wider impact of the in project.

We have already benefited from DASH's common sense and encouragement, and see this as a huge chance to learn more from them and improve how we serve and represent disabled people and Vermin (the artist's name).

Arnolfini

A Space for Ideas

In a fantastic waterside location at the heart of Bristol’s harbourside, Arnolfini is one of Europe’s leading centres for the contemporary arts, presenting innovative, experimental work in the visual arts, performance, dance, film, music and events, accompanied by a programme of educational activities. Five exhibition spaces, a theatre/cinema auditorium, Reading Room and Light/Dark Studios are housed in the Grade II listed, fully accessible building. The converted warehouse also contains one of the country’s best arts bookshops as well a café bar.

The Public

Creative place, inspiring art, changing lives

We programme works and exhibitions which have both local appeal and which interest a national audience such as Mnemosyne by John Akomfrah and Martin Parr’s Black Country Stories, but always with excellence at their core. Our partnerships with other galleries and arts organisations help us to achieve inspiring art but also demonstrate our community focus, both in terms of the region and the arts more widely. Alongside professional artists we support young and emerging artists, providing a place where not only can they showcase their work but which they can use as a testing ground to gain feedback and develop their practice.

The Public have chosen to use their commission to create a permanent exhibit.

Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery

A New Museum & Visitor Centre for Shrewsbury

Between 2007 and 2009, Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council planned and financed an exciting and innovative new museum, gallery and Visitor Information Centre at the Music Hall in Shrewsbury. The Music Hall, a major complex of historic buildings in the Council’s ownership, became vacant with the opening, in February 2009, of the town’s new Shrewsbury Theatre Severn. It includes the mediaeval Vaughan’s Mansion, currently inaccessible to the public, and the concert hall of 1836. The new venue will extend public access to these historic buildings and will offer considerably larger and more flexible spaces for display, plus opportunities for programming, visitor facilities and services completely unavailable in the existing museum. It will open in 2013.

2012

DASH moves to the Hive July 2012: DASH relocated to the Hive in Shrewsbury town centre, following several years at Hartley Business Centre in Monkmoor.

Habib Malik-Mansell from the Hive said "We are really happy to now have DASH based within the building, which will certainly bring an added dimension to the organisation and variety of opportunities within the arts that we are able to deliver.

DASH Annual report 2011/2012 22nd June 2012: Click on the following link to download the annual report of DASH from the 2011/2012 period:

issuu.com/dasharts/docs/1112annual_report.doc

M21 Live Art Event in Much Wenlock May 5th and 6th 2012

From the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games comes M21: From the Medieval to the 21^st Century.

Is Much Wenlock only about pretty black and white buildings and living history in Middle England? M21 brings together the history of this small Shropshire town with the politics of live art to confront the reality of modern rural living. Renowned disabled artists Tanya Raabe, Alan McLean, Simon McKeown, Sean Burn, Noëmi Lakmaier, Ann Whitehurst and the Disabled Avant-Garde explore climate change, country living and historic practices through a disability aesthetic. They defy tradition, resist definition and ask awkward questions. But the audience has a greater part to play. M21 breaks the rules about who is making art, how they are making it and who they are making it for. These artists' works ask questions of you, the audience. Are you ready to take part in finding the answers?

Visual Art Workshops at DASH November 2011 - May 2012 13th March, 17th April, 15th May 2012

Dates 2012

13th March
Open visual art workshop It's up to you!
Use DASH's paints and paper, or bring materials from home and meet up with likeminded people for a relaxed creative day.
Fee £5 or £3 concessions

17th April
Cartoon workshop - FREE!
Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

15th May
Open visual art workshop It's up to you!
Use DASH's paints and paper, or bring materials from home and meet up with likeminded people for a relaxed creative day.
Fee £5 or £3 concessions

All workshops are held at the DASH SPACE,
Unit 4 Hartley Business Centre,
Monkmoor Road,
Shrewsbury
SY2 5ST.

All workshops start at 10.30am and finish at 3.30pm. Tea and coffee will be provided, please bring your own lunch.
To book on the workshops please contact paula@dasharts.org or telephone 01743 272939.

2011

DASH's Disability Film Festival October 25th until October 28th 2011: Screenings, talks and gaming as part of the Disability Film Festival 2011

@ the DASH Space in Shrewsbury

Tuesday 25^th - Day 1 - 10. 30 am till 7 pm - ALL FILMS SUBTITLED

Short Films From Around the World

Falling - 6 Mins - 2009 - Marlene Millar and Philip Szporer - Mouvement Perpe’tuel

Featuring: Jeff Hall - Canada - NO DIALOGUE

Eskimo Kiss - 10 Mins - Drama - 2009 - Dustin Feneley

Featuring: Mario Filintatzis and Anya Beyersdorf - Australia - NO DIALOGUE

Hannah -  5 Mins - 2010 - Sergio Cruz - Featuring: Hannah Dempsey

England - NO DIALOGUE

Deaf Not Dumb - 3 Mins - 2011 - Deaffinity - Featuring: Samira Mohammed, Maab Adam, Khayrun Nessa - UK - NO DIALOGUE

Doubly Vulnerable - 19 Mins - 2009 - Kristina Meiton - Featuring: Jennie Radstrom, Bettan Stenrosen - Sweden - ENGLISH SUBTITLED

Bence - 44 Mins - 20XX - G’abor Ferenozi - Hungary - ENGLISH SUBTITLED

When a Line of Lights Shine - 19 Minutes - 2009 - Shahriar Pourseyedian

Iran - ENGLISH SUBTITLED

Elena -  XX Mins - 2010 - Elena Pecaric - Croatia - ENGLISH SUBTITLED

Con El Ruote Per Terra - 72 Mins - 2010 - Andrea Boretti - Featuring: Nicolai Lilin, Italian Wheelchair Basketball National Team - Italy - ENGLISH SUBTITLES

A Cold Land - 22 Minutes - Documentary - 2010 - Shahriar Pourseyediah - Iran - ENGLISH SUBTITLED

Deaf Awareness - 5 Mins - 2008 - Kelia Thompson, Philip Webber, Simon Brookes

English and British Sign Language and Sign Support - UK - SUBTITLED

Forward / Backward - 96 Mins - 2009 - Elizabeth Spear and Kendall Lynch - Featuring: Clayton Mays and Josh Chaffin - English and French - USA - SUBTITLED

SEEING - 11 Mins - 2010 - Mari Kaward - Featuring: Meagan Barno - USA, Japan - SUBTITLED

Beautiful Difference - 32 Mins - Documentary - 2009 - Nathaniel Torok - Featuring: Daniel Chaplin, Katie McCurdy, Kelsey Siegel, Jane Chaplin, et al - Canada - SUBTITLED

Wednesday 26^th - Day 2

Learning Disability Day 11 am - 12 Noon - OSKA BRIGHT Films

Learning Disability at DASH Film Festival to include:

Oska Bright Film Festival - Short Film festival with all films made by people with a Leaning Disability submitted from around the world. Oska Bright is licensed from the Oska Bright Film Festival based in Brighton (Carousel / Oska Bright).

Gaming Sessions: 12 - 1 pm

Using a High Definition Playstation 3 (PS3) consul with teh following games: FIFA 12 - Gran Tourismo - Kill Shot. Up to 2 Players at a time. The game will be projected on to a large screen. Play at its Finest.

1.30 pm - 7 pm - Films Submitted (NOT SUBTITLED)

Protest - 5 Mins - 2011 - Penny Pepper - UK - NO SUBTITLES

Bonfire - 3 Minutes - 2009 - Penny Pepper - UK - NO SUBTITLES

The Lover for Leonard -2 Mins - 2010 - Penny Pepper - UK - NO SUBTITLES

/Rrift - 2 Mins - 2011 - Sean Burn - UK - NO SUBTITLES

Champ: The Steve Mitchell Story - 74 Min - Documentary - 2009 - Mark Brinbaum

Featuring: Steve Mitchell - USA - NO SUBTITLES

Unbreakable - 14 Mins - 2011 - Aislinn Lewis / Neil Smith / Marie Louise Flexen

Featuring: Aislinn Lewis, Oliver Ellis, et al - UK - NO SUBTITLES

You Can’t Be Healed Unless You Feel - 7 Mins - 2008 - Dolly Sen and Adam James - Featuring: Stephanie Baker - UK - NO SUBTITLES

More Than Meets The Eye - 29 Mins - 2011- Hap Kindem - Featuring: Anne Mette Bredahl, Monica Beigluud, Paul G.R Bowen, Diane Hanisch - English - Norway, UK, Canada - NO SUBTITLES

Blind Love - 10 Mins - 2010 - Mark Kemp - Featuring: Magda Rodriguez, Shovell, Anna Bindra (Voice) - UK - NO SUBTITLES

Beyond the Surface

8 Mins - 2010 - Kevin Clifford, Marie Louise Flexen (Gloucestershire Dance) - Featuring: Hannah de Cancho, Stephanie Holt, Frank McDaniels, Oliver Ellis - UK - NO SUBTITLES

Crooked Beauty - 30 Mins - 2010 - Ken Paul Rosenthal - Featuring: Julie McNamara - USA - NO SUBTITLES

Turn Back Time

20 Minutes - 2010 - AbPhab Film Collective (Eastside Community Heritage) - Featuring: AbPhab Youth Group - UK - NO SUBTITLES

Thursday 27^th - Day 3 -    Guest Day & Screenings

11 am - 1 pm Gaming Sessions:

Using a High Definition Playstation 3 (PS3) consul with teh following games: FIFA 12 - Gran Tourismo - Kill Shot. Up to 2 Players at a time. The game will be projected on to a large screen.   Play at its Finest.

2 - 4 pm    MACE Archive Film Screening on Learning Disability:

"A film showing how mentally handicapped children learn to live in the community through work, play, visits, travel, and new experiences." From Barrs Court Special School.

From MACE via the The Hereford Museum Resource and Learning Centre. Barrs Court Special School film was shot by the deputy headmistress, Mrs Deeley, of Barrs Court Special School in Hereford (http://barrscourt.weebly.com/) and deposited by Nigel Deeley (the son of the Deputy Headmistress Mrs Deeley) and show Barrs Court School trips during the 50s and 60s. There is one section which was made especially to promote the work of the school. Thanks to MACE, Lucie Kerley, Barrs Court Special School, Nigel Deeley and Hereford Museum Resource and Leaning Centre. This screening is NOT SUBTITLED.

In addition, a unique screening of the Learning Disability Service offered by Wolverhampton Borough Council in the early 1970’s - an early move in the trend towards community care and integration in the wider community. Who knew Wolverhampton could be so progressive! This screening is NOT SUBTITLED.

To conclude there will be a screening of teh very new  Your Rights at Work (10 mins - 2011 - Disability Law Service - English - UK - SUBTITLED)

6 pm Nicola Lane Session

The UK’s leading Disabled Filmmaker Nicola Lane will be coming up from London for a Q&A and a special screening of her work.

7 pm Onwards - Festival Party / Network Session - Guests get-together.

Food, drink, discussion and fun - perhaps even a little gaming.   Nicola Lane and Mike Layward lead a debate on disability in the contemporary art world and its relation to funding, media and the universe.

Till Late - FESTIVAL CLOSES

Debate A-N magazine - October 2011 October 2011

Article in Debate A-N magazine - 2011

Aspire to Inspire:

It's sixteen years since the Disability Discrimination Act came into force, so are disabled artists more in the mainstream now, or have the goal posts just moved sideways asks Emma Geliot...

An article in the October 2011 issue of Debate A-N magazine; offering an exploration of a project that Oriel Davies were hosting as part of the Outside IN programme, led by Disability Arts Shropshire (DASh).

The author was curious to find out about a project which aimed to get disability arts into mainstream galleries.

Noemi Lakmaier's commission 'Object/Female' September 2011

Noemi Lakmaier will create an installation, using the gallery's own collection as inspiration, focusing specifically on seating depicted within artworks.

She will select furniture away from their art-historical context, reinterpreting, changing and manipulating their form physically into different objects so their original function is put into question.

During the exhibition, Noemi will interact with the work by attempting to use the objects as furniture; and visitors will be encouraged to do the same.

Noemi Lakmaeir was at Wolverhampton Art Gallery between September and December 2011.

Her commission and artwork, concluded the Outside In project.

View the Outside In leaflet and poster:

http://issuu.com/dasharts/docs/outside_in_-_main_leaflet_poster

Open Studios Exhibition at DASH July 2011

Camp DAG - The Disabled Avant Garde 9th and 10th September 2011

Disabled Avant Garde - disability arts in Wales

The Disabled Avant Garde was a satirical arts organisation comprising disability artists Katherine Araniello and Aaron Williamson.

They confronted society's perceptions of disabled people; Camp DAG took place in the park beside Oriel Davies and also incorporated other disabled artists from across Wales.

Part of Outside In, co-ordinated by DASH who worked in partnership with Oriel Davies, The New Art Gallery Walsall and Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

Just Dali April 1st, 2011

A group of older people based at Helena Lane Community centre, Ludlow explored the colours, atmosphere and paint techniques of Monet and Turner and adapted these processes to create a six panel painting of the view from outside the centre.

The images below are a selection of their visual art work.

We had so much fun last spring and we had such a great response from you, that we decided to do it all again!

Your input to our evaluation showed that you like tutor led workshops, but also want to do your own thing. So, this new series of workshops will be alternately tutor led and 'do your own thing'. We do listen : )

There are going to be ten workshops in total five tutor led and five untutored, the dates of the workshops are:

All Workshops are 10.30 - 3.30

Tuesday 12 October - Led by Paul Darke - Looks at perspectives. Each Person will work on separate canvases to create one huge piece of art.

Tuesday 9^th November - Untutored

Tuesday 14^th December - Led by Claire Darke - Light and shade - Using just black and white (pencils, paints and papers) to explore through the adventures of experimentation, shadow and lights opacity, objects are the key words.

Tuesday 11^th January - Led by Paula Dower- Working with oils, introduction to working with oil paints.

Tuesday 8^th February - Untutored

Tuesday 8^th March - Led by Jean Green - Creating An Art Journal. Capture your inner- most thoughts, feelings and inspirations with innovative expression using paper and paint. Creat your own Artistic Journal using mixed media and creative writing. Unleash your creative side to decorate your journal pages and take it home to continue with your thoughts and ideas.

Tuesday 12^th April - Untutored

Tuesday 10^th May - Led by Tanya Raabe - Life Drawing - Explore the diversity of the human form in this Life Drawing class.

Tuesday 14^th June - Untutore

Tuesday 12^th July - Led by Mike and Sue - Print making - exploring mono-printing techniques

All the Workshops are being held DASH and they are FREE and open to all. Art materials and tea/coffee will be provided but please bring your own lunch.

To reserve your place email admin@dasharts.org or call 01743 272939

IMP - Improvised Music Project January until June 2011

IMP logo

IMP is a series of workshops of exploring sound, creativity, expression and improvisation.
No previous experience necessary - just an open mind.
The workshops are open to everyone over 18 and cost just £5 each.
The workshop times are: 12.30 - 4.30
January 22nd and 23rd 2011

Jon Petter and Giles Leaman - The Invented Sound Collective

http://www.zubop.com

http:/ / www.gilesleaman.com

Exploring the sounds of materials in their natural state and then invent,

transform, build, create and combine them into Sonic-Cube Player Stations.

February 19th 2011

Rick Wilson and Bec Knight - Musical Fabrication

http://www.beckyknight.co.uk

http://www.eastorywilsound.co.uk/rick.htm

A day of hands-on creative activity with musician Rick Wilson and textile artist Bec Knight. We will be trying our hand at different types of improvisation in music and following the threads into textile imagery.

March 19th 2011

Tanya Raabe, Mike Layward and Sem - Water, Water Everywhere

http://www.tanyaraabe.co.uk

Paint the sound and sound the picture using water based sound makers, paints, drawings and electronic gadgetry. Swimming costume optional!

April 9th 2011

Pete Jones, Lynne Dickens and Michael Ormiston - Creative Interactions

http://www.eyemusic.org.uk/COLOURSCAPE/INDEX.html

http://www.soundtransformations.co.uk

The musician and visual artists will transform the space with sound and colour, using musical instruments, voice, coloured sails and light projections. Participants can contribute, being free to experiment, share, create and play in a safe and enthusiastic environment.

May 21st 2011

Darren Poyzer - Soundscapes

http://www.poyzer.com

Darren will lead a session using well-known riffs as starting points. Using beats and loops, ambient sounds and random noises, he will create grand soundscapes as well as play with whispers of music at the lowest level.

June 11th 2011

Ray Jacobs and Anna Ryder - Myssteries?

http://www.annaryder.com

The session will explore improvisation in all it’s guises.

Using sound and music as it’s root but spilling out into movement, voice and making.

Call DASH to reserve your place 01743 272939

or email admin@dasharts.org. For the latest news: www.dasharts.org

DASH - Unit 4 Hartley Business Centre, Monkmoor Road, Shrewsbury

2010

Raising profile of disabled artists 30th September 2010

DASh aims to raise awareness of disabled artists in Shropshire

'Specialist group helping to raise the profile of disabled artists' read the headline of this Shropshire Star feature from September 2010.

This press release promoted the recent move of DASH to new premises at Hartley Business Centre in Monkmoor. It also provided information on current projects which included Outside IN and also a series of visual arts workshops.

Images accompanying the piece showcased the work of DASH with disabled artists at creative sessions.

Sean Burn opens at New Art Gallery Walsall September 2010

Sean Burn talks about the 'language of lunacy', the words and phrases used generally within society, in conversations and the media; without concious awareness of the stigma associated with them.

For Sean, a nutcase becomes a beautiful piece of art.

Sean is working to reclaim this language and through his 14 month residency at the gallery is creating a body of work in a range of media - sound mapping, performance to camera, assemblages and visual poetry.

Sean Burn was artist-in-residence at The New Art Gallery in Walsall, from January 2010 through to February 2011.

View the Outside In launch invite:

http://issuu.com/dasharts/docs/outside_in_launch_invite

Day In The Life Of August 1st, 2010

We ran two DitLs.

Shropshire Carers. Twelve Shropshire Carers produced DitLs and the resulting DVD was shown at the launch of he Shropshire County Councils Carer's strategy
Grange Day Centre, Shrewsbury. We worked with six users of the Garange to produce a DitL. We used this DitL to develop the project through teaching basic film editing skills.

We have funding applications out to develop DitL projects next year and to use the DitL as a tool for skills development with film and sound.

The First UK Disability Film Festival 3rd December 2010

Programme

Please Note:

There are 4 screenings throughout the day.
DASH is only showing Session 2 from 1.30pm and Session 3 from 3.30pm
Not all venues will be showing all screenings.
All films are subtitled. Full screening list on website.
Please check venue websites for precise times screenings as actual screening times may vary.

Session 1 - Morning

The Best of OSKA BRIGHT
(subtitles & audio description)

Oska Bright is a Learning Disability Festival of the moving image consisting of films made entirely by people with learning difficulties. Originating in Brighton, Oska Bright has been running for 4 years and this is the first ever Best of Oska Bright screenings. All films are between 5 - 10 minutes in length. All films are subtitled and will include audio description.

The Oska Bright films to be shown are:

Journeys - Country Road?
Take me Home! by Project Ability (Glasgow)
I Saw A Girl by Arty Party (Telford)
In Our Shoes by Serena Nordon (Kenilworth)
The Raven’s Tale by The Shystershadows
Germ Academy by JUMPcuts Film Production
Story of The Beatles by Hughie Mclntyre (Glasgow)
35 km by Vilmos Kerecsendy (Vacegres, Hungary
Hope Springs - Episode 1 by David Miller, Wendy Elsley and Peter Nison (Shoot Your Mouth Off Films)
The End of The World According to The Ram by Yosef Foyt, Martin Vojmik, Lucis Pasovam Pavla Jeykova, et al

Session 2 - Afternoon - Showing at DASH from 1.30pm

Short Film Selection (indicative)
Magic Hour 2010 Short Films and other selected Short Films.

The Beaten, 2010, 10 mins, Simon McKeown
The legendary UK disabled actor and comic Liz Carr stars in a hard hitting drama about the potential despair disabled people are facing in the future.

Finding a Sky, 2010, 18 mins, Ewan Marshall (Dir), Alex Bulmer (Writer)
A retired naval officer, Robert (John Alderton) - who has dementia, wants to help a blind woman, Betty, by giving her a moment of seeing.

The White Wall, 2010, 13 mins, Sanchita Islam, Animation
The White Wall traces the journey of a girl who does not fit in the world and has never fitted, although outwardly she resembles a little girl her mind is in another place, another world, another time.

Introducing Homo Mancus, 2009, 9 mins, Germany
A story of a man, Christian Saleta, on his search for acceptance and recognition: a furious Corvette ride through social barriers and a life on two different sides, ending up in a famous dream. Real life action.

Turn the Book Around, 2009, 2 mins, Sean Burn
An experimental film using sound and images to evoke life …

Flourish2BU. 2010, 10 mins, Outside Centre Productions
A group of disabled people come together on a health and well being
project in Wolverhampton; during which some weight is lost, some fitness gained and friendships made.

Session 3 - Late afternoon / Early evening - showing at DASH from 3.30pm

Feature Film from the BBC Archives - Free

Raspberry Ripple (subtitled)
1986, 1 hr 25 mins, Nigel Finch,
John Gordon Sinclair, Nabil Shaban, Faye Dunaway

Raspberry Ripple was produced by the BBC and features John Gordon Sinclair (of 'Gregory's Girl' fame) as a doleful young man who uses a wheelchair and regularly escapes reality by dreaming about American gangster movies. Figuring in his fantasies is a team of Bonnie and Clyde-like desperadoes. The film was produced by the prolific and exceptionally talented producer Ruth Caleb who recently produced the excellent BBC drama film The Last Days of Lehman Brothers.

Ruth Caleb will be 'In Conversation' at DASH - THE SPACE - after the screening of Raspberry Ripple.

Session 4 - Evening

Disability Archive Film From MACE (indicative)
Films between 15 seconds and 10 minutes in length.

Leicester Guild of Cripples - A major fundraising event by the rich in aid of the 'Cripples of Leicester'. Fatantastic sights of old equipment. 1930s.
Goose Fair in Nottingham - Man with one leg dives from high board into a small pool of water; and a Black, female, short stature 'freak' meets the Mayor. 1930s.
Midland Montage - 2 February 1961 - Bus for the disabled: a Cheshire Home recieves a new bus for the use of its residents. Ideal viewing to see range of old chairs.
Midlands News - 5 May 1961 - 'Handicapped' people from Wolverhampton off on holiday: set-off from Molineux Hotel opposite Molineux Motors.
Midlands News
10 February 1964 - Nottingham's Barton's Buses give a Cheshire Home - Holme Lodge - a special bus for disabled patients.
18 April 1966 - Interview with Dame Isobel Cripps opening a new centre for 'handicapped' children at Cheltenham.
ATV Today
17 May 1966 - A Blind man travels from Crewe to Birmingham each day by train to work at Delta Metals.
7 October 1968 - Deaf-Blind man working in metals factory.
Midlands News
29 April 1969 - Carlson House School for 'spastic children' at Harborne receives a coach from the Variety Clubs Sunshine Committee.
ATV Today
15 September 1975 - Actor Roger Tonge - the 'crippled Sandy Richardson on Crossroads' - launches a road safety campaign at Victoria School for the disabled at Northfield in Birmingham.
20 April 1970 - Barbara Blake interview with Peter McCranor and Neil McDonald of Coventry who run a stall at Coventry Market and take part in paraplegic sport.
10 September 1970 - A Jeffrey Watson report about Hilary Pole in Walsall: who is considered to be one of the world’s most severely disabled people.
18 August 1969 - Invalid cars - a danger to everybody!
11 December 1972 - An interview with Joyce Carpenter from Bromsgrove:
at 29 inches - the smallest woman in the world.
20 Jan 1981 - Wheelchair dancing class in Cannock - Not Strickly!.

Disability arts group offering workshops 16th March 2010

Disability arts workshops in 2010

DASH, Disability Arts in Shropshire, was delivering free visual arts workshops and creative sessions in Shrewsbury during late 2010.

The first workshop would celebrate the human figure and the ways in which it has been drawn, painted and sculpted throughout the history of art.

Other workshops in the series explored a wide variety of artistic techniques, as well as influences of art as a theme.

DASH @ HOME - a series of Visual Arts Workshops - FREE and open to all 18th May 2010 onwards

Tuesday 18th May 2010 will see the start of the visual arts workshops at DASH. The first session will be celebrating the difference of the human figure, drawn, painted and sculpted throughout the history of art.

A great day was had by everyone who attended the workshops and they want more! DASH is planning on bi-monthly art workshops - watch this space. Below are some images from the workshop.

All workshops are at the DASH premises and run from 10.30 - 3.30 and best of all they are FREE. The workshops are funded by Lloyds TSB.

Tuesday 8th June 2010. This session will be looking at the Abstract. Bring along your favourite image and make it unrecognisable using textures, colours and lines.

Tuesday 15th June 2010. Paint to the max and revel in the wonderful accidents that can happen, using different paint mediums; oil, acrylic and watercolour.

Tuesday 22nd June 2010. Every picture tells a story...
This session looks at symbolic and iconic imagery that use narrative to inform the viewer. Try it out for yourself and create your own picture story.

Tuesday 6th July 2010. Influences…
Research classic art practices of the past and develop your own practice by using their artforms and create your own.

Paul Darke, Visual Arts Manager at DASH said today "HOME will feel very special to DASH as we have always wanted to have our own base to run arts workshops from. We are looking forward to seeing artists old and new, disabled and non-disabled taking part."

DASH Film Festival and Training Day - FREE event Monday 22nd March 2010: 11 - 12.30    Oska Bright
A selection of short films from the 2009 Oska Bright Film Festival. The UK's only Learning Disability Film Festival. Plus, the world premiere of the DASH launch short film: are you in it?

1 - 4        Info and screenings
An afternoon session unlocking funding opportunities and introduction to DASH's
digital equipment and how groups can use it. There will also be a selection of short films around disability.

4.30 - 7    Buffet & Drinks
Indulge in some quality food and drink and little networking. Meet the people at DASH and key people from other local organisations.

7 - 9.30    The White Ribbon
Feature length screening of The White Ribbon, nominated for Best Film in this year's Oscars. Michael Haneke's masterpiece about Germany pre-1914, with an introduction by Paul Darke and Mike Layward about how the film uses Disability and raises issues of social alienation and exclusion. A brilliant film not to be missed. Followed by a discussion.

You can attend for the whole day or just parts that interest you.

The event is funded by Shropshire Partnership Equalities Forum.

Mike Layward, Artistic Director at DASH said today "This first mini Film Festival at DASH, is just the first in an ambitious programme of Film and Disability events we have planned. On Friday 3^rd December 2010 we will be pioneering a nationwide Disability Film Festival. Arts organisations and film theatres across the country will be simultaneously showing the very best films made by Disabled Directors with Disabled Actors in lead roles.

To reserve your place call 01743 272939 or email admin@dasharts.org

2009

Film and Disability 2009 at Borderlines Film Festival August 1st, 2009

2009 sees the Film and Disability event at Borderlines Film Festival spanning two days at two different venues.

Day one will be at the Courtyard Centre for the Arts, while day two will take place at the Ludlow Assembly Rooms.

The aims of the Film Fest were:

To extend the film festival with a half day at Ludlow Assembly Rooms. This increased the geographical reach of the festival.

To begin the development of a deaf audience, by inviting the Deaf Fest to present a selection of films by Deaf film makers at the Festival. Deaf Fest is the national deaf film festival held in November each year in Wolverhampton

To begin the development of a visually impaired audience, by inviting Raina Haig, a nationally acclaimed visually impaired film maker to present her work at the film festival. We will be hoping to set up workshops etc with the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford.

To develop the input by local, regional and national disabled film makers and disability groups

To continue the development of the marketing of the film festival to as wide an audience as possible.

To continue to ensure that the film festival is as accessible as possible

To continue to show a feature length film made by either a disabled director and/or starring a leading disabled actor.

To employ an evaluator/documentor to get personal feedback from the audience through one to one interviews.

This was our fifth film and disability fest as part of the Borderlines Film Festival.
Due to funding from South Shropshire District Council and Shropshire County Council Equalities and Diversity fund, we were able to extend the Film Festival to have a half day event at Ludlow Assembly Rooms. This allowed us to draw on our Shropshire audience, who have been involved in DASh events in the past.
The big disappointment this year was the drop in audience numbers. This seemed to be due to a number of issues and events coinciding with the Film Fest, which affected our audience attendance i.e. The group from Hereford College of Art and Design had a drama week which clashed (this is a group of about 20 people), key people not able to bring their group, groups deciding to go to Wolverhampton Disability Film Festival and this was the first year we didn't show the work of a local group (there were no films submitted by local groups).
We are aware that Festivals have cycles, which can mean a drop in audience numbers and require the Festival to re evaluate its work and recreate the Festival. DASh has begun this process of re evaluation and have begun to plan for 2010 and beyond.

DASH Annual report 2008/2009 26th June 2009: Click on the following link to download the annual report of DASH from the 2008/2009 period:

issuu.com/dasharts/docs/dash_annual_report_08-09-1

Arts group moves into new home 26th March 2009

DASH moves into new premises in Shrewsbury

Shropshire disabled organisation DASH had just moved into its new home when this article was published in the Shropshire Star.

The new premises offered conference space which voluntary groups could rent out for just £5 an hour. As well as the exciting new office and conference facilities, it was also hoped that a gallery space and an artists' studio could be created.

Borderlines Film Festival - March 2009 19th March until 5th April 2009

The Borderlines Film Festival in 2009 and the seventh year of the festival, which in the previous year, had become the largest film festival in the Midlands!

Once again, films were shown across many venues in South Shropshire and the border counties, with 28 venues screening films over 18 days.

The 2009 festival featured a 'Film and Disability Day' held on April 2nd at The Courtyard in Hereford and then April 3rd at Ludlow Assembly Rooms. The Film and Disability Day was in it's fifth year and organised in partnership with DASH.

A selection of short films were screened, with a particular highlight being a guest session with Deaffest, the UK's only Deaf led film and televison festival...

THE SPACE - Launch Party Thursday 3rd December 2009

The main purpose of the day was to consult with our users. We wanted to know what kind of things they wanted to do at DASH.

It was also a good excuse to have a party!

We didn't get a complete head count, but we estimate that we were full to the brim with about 75 people. We would like to say a big thank you to all those who attended.

The morning kicked off with workshops in puppetry, drawing, photography and film. Followed by lunch with musical entertainment. The Mayor of Shrewsbury came and cut our ribbon and he and his lovely wife stayed for about two hours.

In the afternoon we looked at Disability Films and ended with drinks.

2008

Barriers December 1st, 2008

A first for DASh, this intensive week of creating art around the theme of Barriers was a great success.

Below is a taste of the work that was created.

Sean Burn - Newcastle, created sound art using sound from the local area and his own unique verse, a multimedia show and printed verse on t-shirts.

David Burns - Birmingham, used his printmaking expertise to produce a series of prints using artificial limbs as the subject matter.

Nathan Campbell - Telford, created two raps, in his first performance he was joined by Sally Edwards, in his second performance Nathan really let fly and amazed us all with his lyrical stream of consciousness.

Sally Edwards - Shrewsbury, in her first performance Sally used dance, projected words and sound art to portray her Barriers concept, in her second performance she was a shadow figure using expressive dance moves.

Nikki Hewish - Telford, Nikki was the lead artist for the project and created the red and white Barriers figure from cellophane and tape.

Rowena Keavaney - Ireland, nine canvases were given outlines of tower blocks and airplanes by Rowena, each person on the project painted a peice of canvas. The result was an imposing wall of tower blocks, some of the blocks had Nathan's words from his poetry.

Lucille Power - London, created art using labels, words associated with mental health conditions were tied on to balloons which Lucille removed during the exhibition replacing them with positive words.

Artists Development Team (2) November 1st, 2008

This is a rolling programme delivering professional development to disabled artists through mentoring, support and training.

The images below are from the second group of ADT artists.

For further information contact tanya@dasharts.org

Artist's Statement - Dave King

I started out pursuing a career in Science and engineering, despite being born without a left hand, I had some promising success academically. In 1995 I suffered the onset of Schizophrenia and repeated admissions to hospital then followed. Today my medication (Olanzapine) helps to control my distortions of reality and disturbances of thought.

Delving into the realm of 3D computer graphics utilising the useful metamorphosis of mathematics to produce imagery, my work intends to deliver the potency of using digital techniques to produce art by using structure and shape to employ techniques of object and anatomical construction.

My serious intention to produce imagery using 3-D software has asserted itself through my connection to Disability Arts in Shropshire and my desire for self expression. My digital modelling has even formed spin off interests, such as the now essential interest in digital photography and even some traditional art work with watercolour pencils.

My pictures mimic situations and events in my life. My work so far is a result of building my own visual vocabulary, amongst which are representations of invention, tranquillity, humour, adventure and subjugation.

All my work is initially produced using a 3D modelling process but are brought to life with Photoshop and painter.

Preparing for speedy expansion 15th October 2008

DASH expansion following Lottery grant

Town centre arts charity DASH was preparing for a major expansion following a lottery award!

This article from the Shrewsbury Chronicle announced that Disability Arts Shropshire was planning to use a £98,000 grant from West Midlands Arts, to fund a range of projects.

There was to be a programme of workshops and residencies for artists, plus further training for venue managers across the county - to help them make their premises fully accessible to disabled people.

DASH Annual report 2007/2008 20th June 2008: Click on the following links to download the annual report of DASH from the 2007/2008 period:

issuu.com/dasharts/docs/annual_report_2007_2008_pdf

Artists Development Team (3) June 1st, 2008

Sights and Sounds invites you to accompany three disabled artists as they reinvent themselves through mentoring support and training.

Our third Artists Development Team exhibition brings together two visual artists and a performing artist.

Rob Gemmell - Fine Artist. Rob Gemmell's art reflects his passion for the spiritual and lonely aspects of life, but not the melancholic. Through his art he expresses what cannot be written, only felt in sight or sound. "Step into my world and linger for a while."

Jean Green - Mixed-Media Artist. Jean's art is centred around 'Food for Thought': The ability of food to affect her health, combining art and creative writing through sketchbooks and artwork. "Contemplating food and my thoughts creatively."

Richard Zimbler - Performing Artist. Richard uses the rhythms and beats of West African drums. "Its's a good way to express simple beats that can be taken into the real world."

Maralyn Hepworth written a review of the private view:

It is always a treat to visit the Qube, which is such an inspiring place, but on this occasion I was met by the sound of African drumming - not the usual expectation in an Art Gallery. Richard Zimbler had been joined by friends Joseph Bentley from Gloucester and Martin Rhodes from Stoke on Trent and the three produced some exhilarating and exciting rhythms. Taking up the drums at Hereford College six years ago, his interest moved from what I describe as 'Western' drums, being ignorant of the musical terms, into African drums where Richard enjoyed the more rounded sounds produced by using intricate hand movements. Richard, who has LMBBS, has produced a 10 track CD to raise funds for their annual conference. Already confident in public speaking, Richard felt that he could now talk in artistic terms about his work, and was more confident in a professional market place.

During lulls in the drumming, the quality of the other artwork was well worth exploring. Jean Green was very excited and nervous to be having her first exhibition at such a prestigious gallery, but she has a lovely feeling for colour, design and sensitivity, with a DASh of humour. Her inspiration comes from her garden and allotment, and I particularly enjoyed her whimsical vegetables. Much lighter in style and less worked than her garden pictures, they expressed a humour and lightness of touch. It was only when I read the title “loopy leeks” I realised that one indeed had grown into a loop! As a gardener myself, I recognise the excitement of finding a strange shaped vegetable so unlike those on supermarket shelves. Her other titles were also fun - Crunchy Carrots, Blushing leeks. I adored the sketch book - a plethora of ideas and quick sketches beautifully displayed. With the present media and public interest in local organic food, I am sure there is a market for her work.

Rob Gemmell's work covered a range of subjects, each of which showed a perceptive talent worthy of many more exhibitions. From townscapes, , such as 'Barrack’s Passage' in Shrewsbury, to a beautifully worked charcoal drawing 'Flights of Fancy' a seascape and birds, he captures the essence of the scene. Rob started painting seriously four years ago after leaving work with health problems, and this has given a focus to his life, with the development programme encouraging him. One painting stood apart from the scenes. This was a foetus inside a rose - or was it? Look closer. Fingers? A hand? Here Rob's imagination has taken hold, and together with his technical skills produced a thought provoking and inspiring painting.

DASh Artist Development Programme has again produced and interesting and varied exhibition, and listening to the artists, a wholly worthwhile project. I look wish all this year's artists success in the future, and look forward to next year's exhibition.

To purchase the Richard Zimbler CD phone: 07791 428302 £6 (plus £1 postage)

Film and Disability 2008 at Borderlines Film Festival May 1st, 2008

Check out the review of this years Film and Disability event by Tanya Raabe on Disability Arts Online:
http://www.disabilityarts.org/site/review_of_film_and_disability_2008

Gallery plan for DASH 6th March 2008

New gallery plans for DASH

DASH submitted plans for the new gallery and office space at Unit 4 of Hartley Business Centre on Monkmoor Road in Shrewsbury.

Having been based at The Lantern on Meadow Farm Drive for some time, the increase in Arts Council England funding meant DASH now had the opportunity to expand.

The plans for Unit 4 of the Business Centre, were to change the space from retail use, into offices with an art gallery and studio.

One of the many benefits is that a gallery space would give the public the chance to view the work of DASH artists in person.

Artists get online showcase 17th January 2008

Artists get an online showcase

Artists were being given the chance to show off their work, thanks to DASH.

A new online gallery and interactive forum was set-up on the DASH website, giving disabled artists the opportunity to exhibit their work beyond town exhibitions.

It was just one of a whole host of measures being undertaken by DASH, with the aim of providing more opportunities for disabled people in the area.

2007

BBC Shropshire online - 2007 11th October 2007

BBC Shropshire visit to DASH

Beating down barriers with art.

Annabel Jones of BBC Shropshire online found out what happened when Disability Arts In Shropshire (DASH) spent a week in a disused shop.

"My favourite piece was easily the giant acrylic work of skyscrapers and aeroplanes by Tanya Raabe and Rowena Keavaney. Stretching floor-to-ceiling, it showed just how imposing barriers can really be - but the bright colours and interesting shapes used made it prettier than you would expect a picture of a concrete metropolis to be."

DASH Annual report 2006/2007 22nd June 2007: Click on the following link to download the annual report of DASH from the 2006/2007 period:

issuu.com/dasharts/docs/annual_report_2006_2007

issuu.com/dasharts/docs/dash_annual_report_06-07

Ludlow Carnival 2007 May 1st, 2007

DASH are very sad to announce that Festive Ludlow have decided not to hold another carnival in 2008. The inclement weather and lack of audience meant that donations were too low to fund another carnival.

DASH's Artistic Director, who has been organising the carnival camp since 2001 said "It has always been tough for DASH to get the funding to run the workshops and we were seriously considering whether we could raise enough for 2008, but now the decision has been taken out of our hands. We hope to continue our links with the community in Ludlow in future arts projects. The carnival is dead, long live the carnival!"

The photographs will give you a taste of Carnival - DASH style.

Scene and Heard - Shrewsbury Chronicle 6th March 2007

Artists in residence scheme - Scene and Heard

A feature article from 6th March 2007; the heading reads "Cut a dash at a summer project for the disabled".

This piece announces the launch of limited places on a special artists in residence scheme in Shrewsbury for the summer.

DASH, Disability Arts in Shropshire, was using part of a £30,000 grant to bring together five artists from different disciplines in a multi-media project on the theme of barriers.

Tanya Raabe said the scheme had attracted interest from all over the country including North Yorkshire and Cornwall.

Recruiting disabled artists 16th February 2007

DASH recruiting Disabled artists

"Group hopes to recruit five disabled artists".

DASH was on the lookout for five disabled artists to participate in a multimedia project and this press article from February 2007 promoted this to Shropshire people, having been featured in the Shropshire Star newspaper.

Work could include film, photography, writing, two-dimensional pieces, three-dimensional pieces, music or even performances too.

2006

Shrewsbury Chronicle - Video shines light 16th November 2006

Disability access concerns at The Lantern in Shrewsbury

The headline of this article from the Shrewsbury Chronicle in November 2006, read 'Video shines light on lantern centre flaws'.

Shrewsbury's MP Daniel Kawczynski had vowed to question bosses over the £2 million Lantern Centre, demanding to know why fire safety recommendations had been ignored.

Tanya Raabe, a disabled employee of DASH (Disability Arts in Shropshire) had made a video of her daily struggles in trying to access her place of work.

Shrewsbury Chronicle - Lantern changes 9th November 2006

Concerns over disability access at The Lantern Shrewsbury

"Safety fears force changes at £2m community centre" is the headline of this piece dated 9th November 2011 and having appeared in the Shrewsbury Chronicle.

The article highlighted the changes which were having to be made after only five months of the community venue opening, following concerns from tenants that it was virtually impossible for disabled people to be evacuated from the upper floor.

DASH Annual report 2005/2006 23rd June 2006: Click on the following links to download the annual reports of DASH from the 2005/2006 period, including a report of the 2006 Ludlow Carnival:

issuu.com/dasharts/docs/dashannualreport0506

issuu.com/dasharts/docs/dashcarnival06report

Ludlow Carnival 2006 29th May 2006

Images showing the involvement of DASH at the Ludlow Carnival which took place on the Bank-Holiday in May 2006.

Visual Art Slabs in Walsall 24th March 2006

This event concentrated on a group of 10 regional disabled artists. The arts slab artists were invited to debate and discuss the current position of disability arts within a contemporary arts scene. They specifically looked at the barriers faced by disabled visual artists.

The format took the form of an informal debate and discussion resulting in the making of two visual artworks during the day; that reflected the barriers and solutions which the artists came up with.

Arts Slabs provided practising artists with the opportunity to look at the following issues and come up with practical solutions;

We want our work to be shown in the Mainstream
We experience barriers which stop us being part of the Mainstream and these barriers affect our development as artists.
WHAT ARE THESE BARRIERS ?

Click on the link below to access a report from the Art Slabs:

issuu.com/dasharts/docs/performing_artslab_report

2005

Unleashed - mixed media exhibition 19th September 2005

Three disabled artists with a wealth of artistic flair and experience came together to professionally develop their own arts practice through ADT - Arts Development Team, a DASH Visual Arts initiative.

The venue was Belmont Arts Centre and the exhibition took place between September 19th and October 9th 2005 - with a Private View on September 20th.

Dave King, a Fantasy Digital Artist was one of those involved in the exhibition, along with Pat Steele - a Still Life Water Colourist and also Maralyn Hepworth, with issue-based tapestry weaving.

In evaluation of the project, it was realised that artists believed they would benefit from a mentor to help them in developing their careers.

Home visits were important as they focused on individualised plans; giving support and guidance on arts matters, which helped the artists to gain confidence.

It was also felt important that the artists were all working towards the same goal. The exhibition took place whilst they developed their own individual career paths. This gave them communal support - stopping them from feeling isolated as artists and as disabled people. The team worked well together in harmony.

DASH Annual report 2004/2005 24th June 2005: Click on the following links to download the annual reports of DASH from the 2004/2005 period:

issuu.com/dasharts/docs/disability_arts_in_shropshire_repor

issuu.com/dasharts/docs/disability_arts_in_shropshireannual

issuu.com/dasharts/docs/disability_arts_in_shropshireannual_5e36f929d30f94

issuu.com/dasharts/docs/dash_annual_report_04-05-3

Ludlow Carnival 2005 25th May 2005

Images showing the involvement of DASH at the Ludlow Carnival which took place between May 25th and May 30th 2005.

Disabled artists gear for Carnival 20th May 2005

Disability arts and artists at Ludlow Carnival

Disabled and non-disabled people of all ages were invited to participate in a fourth inclusive carnival camp run by Disability Arts in Shropshire.

Costume and dance workshops were on offer at Ludlow Assembly Rooms as part of the town's Carnival.

There was a farming theme to the sessions, inspired by the Shropshire countryside.

Borderlines Film Festival - March 2005 18th March until 31st March 2005

Borderlines film festival programme 2005

The Borderlines Film Festival in 2005 - films were shown across many venues in South Shropshire and the border counties, including Herefordshire.

Amongst the many venues were The Courtyard in Hereford, Ludlow Assembly Rooms and Shrewsbury's Old Market Hall.

DASH opens doors to arts events 24th February 2005

Dash offers transport to the arts

"Help with transport is now enabling more and more people to attend arts events in rural Shropshire, explains Robert Bullard" read the sub-header of this press article from February 2005.

Dash had just launched Bridgnorth Arts for All; offering transport
to arts events, with the aim of encouraging more people to attend.

2004

Scene and Heard - Shrewsbury Chronicle 21st October 2004

Scene and Heard article on DASH

A feature article from 21st October 2004; the heading reads "Disabled artists take up digital challenge".

This piece promotes and covers the launch of a new project, which aimed to bring disabled artists together to produce digital artwork - focusing on the theme of Difference through digital art.

Digital Now (two) was aimed at empowering disabled artists to use technology to help enhance and improve their work.

ACE West Midlands news - August 7th 2004 7th August 2004

ACE Newsletter - August 2004

Arts Council England provided a focus on the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and its implications; an update on Creative Partnerships in the
West Midlands - and finally information on Arts Council England's New
Audiences programme.

DASH Annual report 2003/2004 25th June 2004: Click on the following link to download the annual report of DASH from the 2003/2004 period:

issuu.com/dasharts/docs/annual_report_03-04.doc

Digital Now 1 and 2 April 1st, 2004

The resulting images have been show give a flavour of the work created by 20 disabled artists in Shropshire.

2003

Drive to bring access to arts Autumn 2003

Bringing access to the arts for all

This press article was published in the autumn of 2003.

BAAA, Bridgnorth Arts for All, offered door-to-door transport to specific events across the county, for only a pound! The pilot project saw four BAAA events in village halls across the Bridgnorth district, with professional theatre, music and circus companies on offer.

DASH Annual report 2002/2003 20th June 2003: Click on the following link to download the annual report of DASH from the 2002/2003 period:

issuu.com/dasharts/docs/annual_report_02-03.doc

Ludlow Carnival 2003 1st June 2003

Images showing the involvement of DASH at the Ludlow Carnival which took place in 2003.

Astoria Project April 2003

Astoria was the working title for a very ambitious arts project run as a partnership between DASH, DIVAS, Loudwater Studios, SDC, the QUBE and several daycentres. The project ran for 18 months from September 2001 till culminating in an exhibition at the QUBE in April 2003. See the gallery section for more images.

2001

DASH performers acquire £40,000 for 'King of Fools' 1st August 2001

Disability Arts group awarded a £40,000 grant for performance

A local arts group had received a grant of £40,000 for a project involving disabled and non-disabled performers with the culmination of a show at Shrewsbury Castle.

The King of Fools project had been devised by DASh and was based around the theme of the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

The West Midlands Arts Board had awarded the grant as part of the Regional Arts Lottery programme. An important element of the project was the involvement of young people and community groups in workshops across the county.

King of Fools 1st August 2001

The King Of Fools performance at Shrewsbury Castle

Shrewsbury was preparing to host an exciting three day performance of music and fireworks at Shrewsbury Castle.

'The King of Fools' was said by organisers to be one of the most exciting events to hit town since the Civil War.

DASH presented the unique event in partnership with the Music Hall and what was at the time, ShYAN on Belmont.

People who were interested in being part of the show, had the chance to work with Blue Eyed Soul, Shropshire's integrated dance company - on devising pieces of dance for inclusion in the performance.

2000

DASH Annual report 2000 23rd June 2000: Click on the following link to download the annual report of DASH from the year 2000:

issuu.com/dasharts/docs/dash_annual_report_2000

International Festival of DA - 2000 2000

Poster for arts festival in 2000

An International Festival of Disability Arts - 2000.

DASHBASH - ADW Magazine 1st March 2000 - spring

ADW Magazine - spring 2000 edition

Dash and Blue Eyed Soul were featured in the spring 2000 edition of ADW magazine - issue number 13.

The magazine covered the DASHBASH Two, a further celebration of Disability Arts in Shropshire. It summarised the festivals which Dash had run so far during the previous few years and also promoted future events and projects; such as the large scale outdoor events which Dash intended to hold in 2001.

DASHBASH Two featured entertainment from a number of sources, including Wild Woman on Wheels, dance from Mosaic Arts and also Wales' own Ruth Kaye's performance poetry.

Shropshire Millennium Art Commissions 1st January 2001

New performance works from disabled artists

"Disability arts are at the forefront of cutting edge performance work in this country, challenging definitions of what can and cannot, what is and what might be..."

This booklet detailed Smac 2k; the Shropshire Millennium Art Commissions which had been set-up to mark the Millennium in Shropshire. Several new performance works were commissioned from professional disabled artists.

The aim of the project was to build creative partnerships through jointly commissioning new work in collaboration with well-established Shropshire Festivals.

1999

Shire Magazine - summer 1999 1st August 1999 - summer

Disability arts coverage in Shire Magazine

"Dash along to see innovative county festival"...

A PR piece promoting DASH 99, a vibrant eight day arts festival which ran from September 6th until 13th in 1999 - with events taking place at various venues all across Shropshire.

The festival was organised by DASH, Disability Arts in Shropshire and and was designed to encourage the development of disability arts in the county.

1998

Festival of DA - October 1998 16th October until 25th October 1998

DASH returned in 1998 with an exciting programme of events, following on from the previous two years.

We had everything from exhibitions to music, to dance and theatre. In this year we welcomed back to the Festival some of the same artists from previously who showcased their latest works - and we introduced the county to a new wealth of talent, previously undiscovered by Dash.

There were performances by Soul to Soul and Strathcona Theatre Company - plus a whole host of attractions at the Dash 98 showcase event, which was accompanied by the Dash 98 Party Night!

Exhibitions included Sound-makers by Jacie Rankin; plus a variety of workshops throughout the festival - with one highlight being an art training day for artists with disabilities.

Friends of DASH broadsheet 1st January 1998

Friends of DASh disability arts in Shropshire

"A rapidly growing and high profile Festival..."

This broadsheet publication provided a summary of DASH, with an exploration on the history of the organisation to date and then plans for the future as well.

It followed on from the successes of the DASH 96 and 97 Festivals; aiming to outline the subsequent development of disability arts in Shropshire.

Plans for the future at the time, included strengthening both public and business support for DASH; attracting new audiences to sample the vibrancy of Disability Arts - and above all, helping provide access to quality arts and Disability events in the county.

1997

Festival of DA - June and July 1997 23rd June until 6th July 1997

DASH 97 presented an opportunity for disabled and non-disabled people to come together; to explore and celebrate; as performers, audiences and participants.

The experiences generated during DASH 97 demonstrated that disabled people play a vitally important, exciting and developmental role in advancing the arts.

"Once in a while you are sitting or standing there... Suddenly you know what the arts are about, right down to the last quivering molecule in the cells of your body." Member of Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company.

DASH 97 encouraged people to be one of those 'Once in a whiles' - taking heed of what the musician Johnny Crescendo demands - 'Stay strong, stay proud and stay angry". Most importantly everyone was invited to GET INVOLVED!

1996

DASHMAG - July 1996 July 1996

DASHMAG launch issue - July 1996

The launch of the very first, one and only disability arts magazine for Shropshire!

Featured in the issue were articles offering news and information on the Shropshire Disability Arts Festival; coverage of dance with Blue Eyed Soul - and music with Heart 'n' Soul.

This issue was published and distributed in July 1996.

Festival of DA - June and July 1996 24th June until 7th July 1996

The First Shropshire Festival of Disability Art; 1996, a celebration of disability art and culture; featuring work by local artists and performers, complimented by the very best of national talent. Workshops took place across Shrewsbury, plus exhibitions across the county - and a final main performance at the Music Hall.

"Disability Culture is being built upon a ruthless honesty about the people we are and the role we play in society... It is what is common in our lives... our dreams as well as our struggles and our nightmares". Simon Brisenden

1992

How DASH started 1992: DASH was born in 1992 as part of Shropshire Disability Consortium. We ran a highly regarded annual Disability arts festival in Shropshire from 1996 till 2001.

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