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Momentum’09
International Disability Arts Symposium
Auckland, New Zealand 2009
PACE > PERSPECTIVE > PROMINENCE
1 May 2008
Call for Expressions of Interest
Momentum 09 is an International Disability Art Symposium being held in Auckland, New Zealand from the 25th till the 28th of February 2009. We are seeking Expressions of Interest from artists, performers, speakers, and delegates.
This document contains information about the symposium and a list of what we are looking for. More information about the symposium can be found at www.momentum09.com
Momentum’09 is a project of Diversityworks Trust with support from ASB Community Trust, Arts Regional Trust, AUT University, Jubilee Trust, Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS) and the International Guild of Disabled Artists and Performers (IGODAP).
Introduction
Momentum’09 will bring pace, perspective and prominence to disability arts and provide the next step towards a viable and global understanding of and respect for disability arts and culture. It will be a melting pot of innovation, inspiration, aspiration and the very best in performance and visual arts by disabled artists and performers from around the world.
The symposium will exist in the physical at AUT University and “virtually” via the Momentum’09 website. We will be using technology as much as possible to broaden the involvement of participants, artists, speakers and delegates. Opportunity exists to for involvement in both the physical symposium in Auckland and or in the virtual symposium online.
The aim is to create a highly participative programme, bringing together disabled artists and arts workers, representatives from funding bodies and mainstream arts organisations and venues. There is a strong commitment to attracting a representative and culturally diverse delegation, specifically addressing indigenous or culturally diverse disabled artists and arts enthusiasts; the inclusion of Deaf arts and Survivors of the mental health system. The organisers of Momentum’09 will strive for a ‘global village’ feel to the event, where all delegates, performers and participants come together to celebrate the achievements of disabled people in the arts to date and build upon the ‘momentum’ for a thriving and vibrant future.
Key Components
The key components of Momentum’09 are:
- Keynote Speakers
- Artistic Programme
- Over The Edge - pushing the boundaries of disability arts
- Market Place and Learning Fair
- Policy Mini-Summit
- Networking and social opportunities
More information about these components is provided later in this document.
A series of community workshops and satellite productions or events is envisioned if we receive interest from outside parties to organise them. If you are interested in organising such an event, please let us know when you register your interest.
What we are looking for
We are seeking expressions of interest from the following:
Speakers & Thought Leaders
- Keynote Speakers for the general sympsium
- Provocative speakers for the ’Over the Edge’ evening programme
- Participants for the policy mini-summit
- Contributors to other discussions and debate
Artists
- Performers for day performances
- Performers for evening performances
- Artists wanting to exhibit either physically at the venue or virtually online – this includes visual artists, writers, performers with video footage, etc.
- Artists in residence
Participants, Providers, Suppliers
- For the Learning Fair - people wishing to gain and/or share skills and knowledge
- For the Market Place - people & organisations wishing to promote their services or business
- For workshops - people wishing to facilitate or participate professional development workshops
Delegates interested in attending
- Pre-professional and professional artists and performers
- Disabled people of all ages
- Family and friends
- Arts administrators, policymakers and produces
- Those working in the Deaf, mental health and disability sectors
- Anyone interested in diversity and creativity
More about the Symposium Components
Keynote SpeakersA range of keynote speakers will set the tone during four days of dialogue and debate about bringing pace, perspective and prominence disability arts and culture worldwide. Speakers will cover issues of creativity, access, funding and professional development, sharing their own stories to inspire the future of disability arts and creative diversity.
Artistic Programme
Artistic Programme of performances, exhibitions and installations by established professional disabled, Deaf and survivor artists and leaders.
Over The Edge – pushing the boundaries of disability arts
“Over the Edge” will be the evening programme of Momentum’09. A series of provocative speakers, artists and performers will present new, provocative and/or inspiring ideas to promote discussion, debate and dialogue with an audience sourced from the Symposium and wider public. ”Pushing the boundaries of disability arts” will be the theme and artists and speakers will be selected for their ability to present innovative or provocative ideas in an entertaining manner.
Possible topic areas include:
- Future ideals about disability and the role of disabled people
- Provocations on creativity and design
- Challenges to arts funders, policymakers and administrators
- Satirical or parodistic interpretations of disability arts
Market Place and Learning fair
A Market Place and Learning Fair of information about education, training and funding opportunities will provide professional development opportunities for disabled people already working or disabled young people aspiring to work in the arts. It will showcase established artists and arts managers and their career paths and provide workshops in key skills required for business and professionalism, highlighting exciting new ways of learning.
The Market Place and Learning Fair focus will include professional development for artists; funding access; business practice information/workshops to assist artists to develop sustainable business models.
Policy Mini-Summit
A policy mini-summit, in association with the International Guild of Disabled Artists and Performers (IGODAP), will run during the Symposium, tasked to develop impacting and sustainable policy principles and guidelines on disability arts for arts funders and administrators.
Globally, disabled artists and performers experience a lack of recognition of their rights, limited access to opportunities and diminished value as artists. The cultural significance of their expression, the impact of their experience of discrimination and stigma, and struggle they face legitimising, funding and producing their work is virtually unrecognised world-wide. Disability arts is often not understood as a genre in need of cultivation and development by arts councils and funders, to the detriment of not only disabled people but society and the arts community at large.
The mini-summit will examine these issues and seek to:
1. Identify and understand the common issues faced by disabled artists and performers
2. Take stock of global trends in current policies on disability arts and identify gaps
3. Agree on future policy directions to enhance the development of disability arts and disabled artists and performers
4. Estimate the cost of these future directions
5. Mandate the production of a Disability Arts Policy Principles and Guidelines document
Networking and social opportunities
Because it’s not all about work, there will be plenty of time for you to kick back, relax, meet people and create opportunities for future collaborations!
Interested? Good! Register your interest NOW
We'll be in touch to confirm we've received it.
Expressions of Interest close 1 June 2008.