International Exchange

Open letter to major European policymakers demands full participation of people with disabilities in the arts

OpinionResource
December 3, 2020

On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2020, members of the European Arts & Disability Cluster have written an open letter to multiple European policymakers to ensure the European cultural programme 2021-2027 has the full participation of people with disabilities as artists, as arts professionals and as audiences. The cluster represents multiple transnational collaborative projects and initiatives focussed on the work of professional disabled artists. The open letter is published in full below.

Podcast: dance, disability and building an international career

ToolkitResource

How do you work towards building an international career as a dancer or choreographer? How do you develop successful connections with curators and programmers?

Dancers create a complex group structure reaching forward and backwards together

Film: Making Dance that Celebrates Difference

FilmResource

How can we create dance and performing arts scenes that are more diverse and that support the work of disabled dancers and artists?

Artist laboratory #5. Making the Leap: Dancer to Choreographer Revealing one’s voice

June 7 – June 11, 2022 Onassis Stegi, Athens, Greece

Two female performers sit on a sofa as they create a site-specific work

Artist laboratory #4 : the dramaturgy of movement transitions

September 8 – September 12, 2021 Oriente Occidente Dance Festival, Rovereto, Italy

Two dancers with their eyes closed touch one hand in the middle, sensing each other's presence

Film: The Importance of International Collaboration

FilmResource

An enhanced transcript for visually impaired audiences is available at the bottom of the page.

Countries across Europe – including the UK – make an international commitment to presenting disabled dancers, performers, directors and choreographers on mainstream stages as part of Europe Beyond Access. This project, coordinated by British Council, demonstrates how transnational collaborations offers powerful benefits for artists, venues and the wider public. Disabled artists and industry leaders involved discuss how multi-country partnerships:

Katarzyna Żeglicka: There are no borders between dance and disability

OpinionResource
December 17, 2019

Katarzyna Żeglicka is a Polish artist taking part in Europe Beyond Access, a transnational programme supporting disabled artists to internationalise their careers. This is her experience of the programme so far, including workshops that took place at Rozbark Theatre in the small town of Bytom, Poland, that were also part of ‘Dance and Disability: Crossing the Borders’ organised by the Institute of Music and Dance and the British Council.