The Arts and People With Disabilities
-- by Grace Wiebe, August 2004
(Editor's Note) - Although I have been disabled for many years and have been becoming increasingly so, somehow I had not really been all that aware of the growing numbers of DISABLED ARTISTS around the world (other than Joni Erickson Tada and a few others), or the ways in which the arts could encourage and be of help to disabled people.
Over the past few years this has become of increasing interest to me, especially since people with many kinds of disabilities exist in every culture and in every nook and cranny of the globe. Disabled people are often 'unreached people groups' in their own rights, needing intentional focus and attention in order to reach them with the long, high, deep and wide love of Jesus.
In the future, we will be including some resources, stories and ideas of some things that have or could be considered as a way of assisting in various situations where people are working among disabled people. If you have stories, ideas, resources or interest in this field, we would be interested in hearing from you about that as well. Thank you! gcwac@disciplethenations.org
Following is one idea that perhaps church planters could
consider and adapt in appropriate situations where some of you are, as well.
Although this is a past event, the idea could be helpful. Similar events could
be done among believers only or in the marketplace as one of the ways to develop
relationships and have indirect/direct opportunities to communicate the Gospel
with those that the Holy Spirit is stirring..
------------------
+ Art And Soul : Celebrating The
Abilities Festival
From: http://www.abilities.ca/arts/arts_articles.html?showarts=1&id=2047
"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and
paints his own nature into his pictures."
- Henry Ward Beecher
When it comes to thinking outside the box, people with disabilities usually have this approach hands down.
Maybe that is why we see such an array of rich creative works emerging from disability culture. Such vast wealth inspires celebration - like an arts festival solely dedicated to the diverse artistic creations of people living with disabilities.
And that is exactly what is being planned for Toronto.
Abilities Festival: A Celebration of Disability Arts and Culture will bring to the fore the talent, strength and creativity of artists with disabilities. This international carnival of visual arts will explore and showcase original work produced by professional artists with disabilities of all kinds.
Three major events, spaced over an 18-month period - a 2003 Art Exhibiton, a spring film festival, and an evening of live performance - will serve as stepping stones leading up to a full-scale celebration in early 2005.
The Abilities Festival, a project of the Canadian Abilities Foundation, transpired out of early discussions between disability pride activists John Feld and Catherine Frazee, both of Toronto. They were soon joined by Sharon Wolfe, who is spearheading this event.
The Abilities Festival is a disability-led initiative - sensitive to disability issues, and inclusive of people with disabilities at every level of the organization. At the same time, it aspires to offer something special to the broader community. The festival is a cross-disability event: people with physical, sensory, learning, mental health and intellectual disabilities, as well as chronic illnesses, will be welcome.
Activities will enhance the sense of community among the huge range of people who come together as artists, community participants and audience members. There will be theatre nights, workshops, films, symposiums, literary readings - art, art, art! By bringing artists with disabilities together with their peers in the mainstream, the Abilities Festival will facilitate the formation of associations of all kinds - associations that, in time, will lead to appreciation, experimentation and integration in classrooms and on stage - an expansion of this first foray..."
Great Commission Worship & Arts Center