Each year DaDa present the Edward Rushton Social Justice Lecture on the United Nations International Day for People with Disabilities (3rd December) to keep alive the passion and fire demonstrated by Rushton, a Liverpool poet, activist, abolitionist and disabled man.
This year we are thrilled to announce that we have secured a fantastic and insightful keynote speaker for the event, Kaite O’Reilly, who will be exploring ‘Rage’ which will be the theme for our 40th anniversary celebration during DaDaFest International coming in March 2025.
If you are passionate about disability rights, equity and inclusion within the arts and beyond, this event will resonate with the “quiet riot” within.
This is a live in-person event that will be BSL interpreted, but will also be streamed online for those who can't attend in person, so please book an online ticket if you would like to receive the links for this.
Exploring ‘Rage’
Our keynote speech this year will be delivered by Kaite O’Reilly, award-winning writer and dramaturg. Kaite advocates the importance of righteous rage - knowing when there is nothing left to do but rage because the injustice is so great, drawing from her own experience of growing into a maturity of knowing when turning your rage into quiet action is more likely to influence change and to benefit in the long run.
Kaite reflects on works such as The War on Disabled People written by Ellen Clifford which reflects the scapegoating and marginalisation of disabled people that has evoked a vibrant movement of disabled activists and their supporters determined to hold systems and system makers to account – making the slogan ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’ more apt than ever.
The keynote social justice lecture this year will open discourse around disabled rights (or lack thereof), injustice and activism we hope will continue into DaDaFest 40.
Find out more about our keynote, panel and host and book your FREE ticket to attend in person or online via eventbrite
If you are not able to book via eventbrite, do contact our team via info@dadafest.co.uk