A couple of weeks ago I put together a list of relevant artsy-poorly cool stuff going on online during the lockdown for Nice Time Arts, so head over there to find out about some free theatre, creative opportunities and more.
Below are some bits I found this week and a number of links for you to send your employer, colleagues and friends about accessibility within the workplace.
Make some zines and support your poorly pals
Drawn Poorly have a great resource section on their website as well as a fabulous backlog of zines written by and for creative chronically ill/disabled folk like us.
I highly recommend checking them out, giving them a follow and, of course, pre-ordering a copy of Issue #6 (a bumper issue featuring yours truly and many others!)
Local Advocacy: Hulme, Moss Side, Whalley Range, Chorlton (Manchester, UK)
#WeShallNotBeRemoved: The Movement We’ve Been Waiting For
#WeShallNotBeRemoved is a quickly blossoming online movement created by a number of theatre groups (including beloved Graea) and intended to include disabled artists across the creative world – not just those involved in theatre. You can read about the group at The Stage or everyone’s favourite alternative arts news channel, A-N, where you can also find the relevant email addresses to get in touch with if you want to be involved.
I am refusing to say more at this stage because I am fortunate enough to be interviewing Andrew Miller himself on Tuesday for our very own site! Stay tuned!
Not Going Back to Normal
My lovely friend sent me this link, and I was over the moon to see this happening. It’s a dream come true, and as many of us lot should be involved as possible!
https://www.notgoingbacktonormal.com/
Accessibility On-Set
The Media Trust is working on a particular project at the moment with various broadcasting companies, called Reframing Disability in the News. With the lack of visibility when it comes to disability, in particular on formal news channels and from main figures such as presenters and news anchors, there has never been a more important time for the media industry to have a good ol’ kick up the backside.
It’s often been assumed, in television and film production more broadly, that on-set jobs are inherently not physical-disability-friendly (however indirectly this is communicated) what with the presumption that a particular type of mobility is required in order to run between sets, run messages to different actors and directors, etc. It is not generally considered that these seemingly necessary aspects of on-set life are something that can be adapted and changed according to the equal opportunities policies that are already in place. It’s a classic case of the social model of disability needing to be applied on a microcosmic scale; an industry can and should be the one to adapt so that it is more accessible, that is ‘able to access’, rather than the job-applicant being deemed as ‘unfortunately’ a person with a disability, whose access issues can’t be helped.
If you or people you know work in this area, please have a look at the Media Trust’s new project, as it looks fab, and there are a great wealth of resources available for companies that are being developed as part of this programme, but that are available now online both at Pact. and at The Creativity Diversity Network.
