Disability Arts Festival
Stay Up Late....and see disability from a different angle
On the evening of Thursday, December 3rd we concluded our Arts Festival about disability, in partnership with Action Disability Kensington & Chelsea (ADKC), at the Westbourne Studios. The Festival featured appearances from disabled stars, film-makers and performers in front of a live audience.
For our final event we had a live performance from Taxi Pata Pata (above); an African band showcasing scintillating soukous with pan African elements. We had a selection of thought provoking short films which challenged stereotypical views of disability within the media after which we had a panel discussion: "Disability, Art and the media." On the panel were media experts specialising in diversity issues including Sue Caro (BBC), Jamie Beddard (Arts Council, England) and Caglar Kimyoncu (UK Film Council).
We also launched our "Top 10 Guide To Accessible Venues In West London." The idea for the guide came about when we were researching a suitable venue for the festival. We were struck by the lack of relevant and current access information for pubs, clubs, cinemas and other venues. So the Octavia Foundation commissioned an access audit and resident's focus group (including tenants from Octavia Housing) in the production of this guide. Congratulations to Westbourne Studios for being awarded 1st place. We presented them with their award at the last of our Festival events.
For a copy of the "Top 10" guide, click here. For further information on the festival and the "Top 10" guide contact Dal Farah. For the text only version of the "Top 10" guide, click here.
The aim of the festival was to spark debate about disability and its representation in the media. It took its name from the Stay Up Late campaign; a pioneering initiative set up by festival performers, Heavy Load.
The campaign challenges the 10pm curfew faced by many disabled people enjoying an evening out and imposed on them by the inflexible contract arrangements of their carers.
Click here for the Disability Arts Festival Poster.
Click here for the Disability Arts Festival Programme.
Click here for Text Only version of Festival Programme.
24th September - 1) Kung Fu Flid 2) Xavier Leret 3) Francesca Martinez.
8th October - 1) Murderball 2) William Mager 3) Heavy Load.
22nd October - 1) What's Eating Gilbert Grape 2) Maria Oshodi 3) Hassan Erraji.
12th November - 1) Last American Freak Show 2) Richard Butchins 3) Richard Moore.
19th November - 1) Unbreakable 2) Ewan Marshall 3) Shaun William.
3rd December - International Day For The Disabled 1) Short Films 2) Panel Discussion "Disability, Art & the Media" with Sue Caro (BBC), Jamie Beddard (Arts Council) and Caglar Kimyoncu (UK Film Council) 3) Taxi Pata Pata.
This project was funded by Arts Council England, Kensington & Chelsea Arts Service, the Notting Hill Methodist Church, the Alchemy Foundation, Notting Hill Housing Group, Kensington Housing Trust and the Octavia Foundation.
Francesca Martinez opened the Festival on September 24th
Heavyload headlined the second Festival event on October 8th
Hassan Erraji entertained at the third Festival event on October 22nd
Richard Moore inspired the fourth Festival event on November 12th
Ewan Marshall & Maria Oshodi lead the Q&A at the fifth Festival event on November 19th